About 50 million people worldwide have dementia. This makes it one of the most prevalent health problems among seniors 65 years and older. According to the Alzheimer’s Association dementia can be defined as a condition that causes a significant decline in mental abilities and interferes with daily living. Sunrise provides detailed memory care resources to help you better understand memory loss and the options available.
There are several types of dementia.
There are many types and causes of dementia.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Alzheimer’s Disease, which accounts for 60-80 percent to 80 percent of all dementia diagnoses, is the most well-known form. Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain and causes abnormalities such as plaque deposits or twisted strands of proteins. It can cause memory, thinking, or behavior problems. The symptoms usually appear slowly and then get worse over time.
These are some of the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Forgetfulness about names, events, or recent conversations
- It is difficult to complete familiar tasks
- Depression or apathy
VASCULAR DEMENTIA
Around 10% of all dementia diagnoses are due to Vascular dementia. Also known as multi-infarct or post-stroke, it is also called multi-infarct. Vascular dementia refers to a decline of thinking skills due to conditions that reduce or block blood flow to the brain. This can lead brain cells from receiving vital nutrients and oxygen. This is usually caused by multiple strokes or injuries to the blood vessels of the brain.
The following symptoms are indicative of vascular dementia:
- Impaired judgment
- Inability to take decisions, plan, or organize
- Motivational loss
LEWY BODY DEMENTIA
Lewy Body Dementia (or LBD) is an umbrella term that covers both Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. It is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s. Movement problems are the first sign of dementia with Lewy bodies. Within one year, thinking and memory problems begin to develop. Parkinson’s disease dementia starts with movement problems. However, memory problems are not common until the later stages of the disease.
Lewy bodies dementia is a form of progressive dementia marked by abnormal microscopic deposits (beta-amyloid) that gradually damage the brain.
Lewy body dementia symptoms include:
- Sleep disturbances
- Memory loss
- Hallucinations
- Sudden changes in alertness
- Gait imbalance
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Parkinson’s Disease, a neurological disorder that results from damaged or impaired neurons in your brain, is caused by neuronal damage. Parkinson’s affects muscle function and movement, so the most common symptom is body tremors. As Parkinson’s disease progresses, it starts to affect memory and other mental functions. About 50-80% of Parkinson’s patients will develop dementia. This usually occurs around 10 years after the onset.
Parkinson’s disease can also manifest as:
- Sluggish movements
- Stiffness, hand cramps, and frozen facial expressions
- Balance troubles
- Patterns of muffled speech
- Depression
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA
Frontotemporal dementia, which is more common than other types of dementia, is more common. It is defined as progressive nerve cell loss in the temporal or frontal lobes of the brain. This includes dementias like behavioral variant FTD and primary progressive aphasia. Frontotemporal dementia is distinguished by behavioral and emotional changes, as opposed to cognitive changes that you might notice in other forms.
Frontotemporal dementia is characterized by:
- Loss of inhibition and an increase in inappropriate behavior
- Empathy has declined
- Compulsive behavior
- Motivational loss
- Depression and anxiety
Nearly a third (33%) of frontotemporal dementia cases have a genetic component. There is no cure for the disease, but doctors can perform certain tests to determine if you are at risk.
MIXED DEMENTIA
Mixed dementia is a combination of neurodegenerative and vascular diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
Although researchers don’t know how many people are affected by mixed dementia yet, studies have shown it to be more common than thought. The majority of dementia patients aged 80 years and older had some form of mixed dementia.
Grande Cypress Assisted Living is here to help. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.
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