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Many people use the terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. Dementia refers to a set of symptoms associated with cognitive decline, while Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia. There are many other types of dementia that don’t fall under the Alzheimer’s classification. Below, we define each type of dementia and provide some background information on what you can expect.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive type of dementia caused by changes in the brain. These changes occur due to abnormal protein deposits that damage nerve cells, leading to a decline in your ability to think, reason, plan and remember. More than six million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
During the first stage, you may start to experience memory loss, changes in your personality, mood swings, and getting lost in familiar places. If you have an older relative with mild Alzheimer’s disease, you may notice that they ask the same question several times or take longer than usual to complete basic tasks.
The next stage, moderate Alzheimer’s disease, is characterized by worsening memory loss and confusion. You may find yourself having trouble recognizing close friends and family members. It may also become more difficult to perform activities of daily living, learn new things or cope with changing circumstances. If the disease progresses, the tissue in the brain shrinks, making it difficult to communicate.
Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia develops when alpha-synuclein, a protein, builds up in the brain. These protein deposits are known as Lewy bodies. It can be difficult to distinguish Lewy body dementia from Alzheimer’s disease because they cause some of the same symptoms. You may have trouble thinking or experience changes in your mood or behavior. Lewy body dementia can also cause abnormal movements. For example, if an older loved one has Lewy body dementia, you may notice that they move slowly or shuffle when they walk.
Lewy body dementia is one of the most common types of dementia, affecting approximately one million people in the United States alone. In addition to the cognitive changes that occur with this type of dementia, you may have visual hallucinations, balance problems, tremors, or difficulty swallowing. If you’re concerned about a loved one, watch for these signs of Lewy body dementia, along with repeated falls, changes in posture, and a loss of coordination.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia refers to cognitive decline associated with a stroke or some other type of vascular problem within the brain. These problems reduce the amount of blood flowing to the brain, depriving the brain tissue of the oxygen it needs to work properly. Like Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia can cause slower thinking, attention problems, and difficulty staying organized; however, memory loss isn’t as significant in vascular dementia as it is in Alzheimer’s disease. The severity of symptoms depends on the number of brain injuries you’ve had, how big they were, and where in the brain they occurred.
If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or another chronic health condition, it’s important to follow the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor. These conditions can cause blood clots or narrowing of the blood vessels, increasing the risk of stroke and other vascular problems. If you care for an older family member, make sure they see a doctor regularly and take all medications as prescribed.
Mixed Dementia
If you have two or more types of dementia, then you have mixed dementia. The symptoms of mixed dementia vary based on several factors, including what types of dementia you have and how far they’ve progressed. You may experience difficulty speaking, remembering things, completing daily activities, or taking care of your finances. Mixed dementia can also cause balance problems, delusions, hallucinations, or problems with movement.
When a loved one develops mixed dementia, you may notice that they don’t seem to care as much as they used to about other people’s feelings. They may also ask you the same questions over and over or repeat the same stories every time you see them. Because multiple types of dementia influence each other, it’s important for your loved one to seek medical care as soon as the symptoms appear. Dementia isn’t curable, but there are some things you can do to improve their quality of life once it’s diagnosed.
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
People with Parkinson’s disease may develop dementia as a result of structural and functional changes in the brain. Although many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s dementia are similar to those produced by other types of dementia, Parkinson’s tends to have more of an impact on daily life because it causes physical and cognitive changes. For example, you may experience tremors or have difficulty walking, making it difficult to work or participate in your hobbies.
In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, the physical symptoms are the most prominent. You may have trouble making typical facial expressions or speaking without slurring your words. Slower movements, changes in your writing and muscle rigidity are some of the other physical symptoms of the disease. If you develop Parkinson’s dementia, you may eventually experience memory problems, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, confusion or hallucinations. Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, but there are medications available to control some of the symptoms.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by changes in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. What sets FTD apart from other forms of dementia is that symptoms usually start to appear between the ages of 40 and 65. In the frontal variant of FTD, the main symptoms of the condition relate to behavior and personality. FTD may also manifest as primary progressive aphasia, which makes it difficult to communicate with others. Semantic dementia interferes with your ability to understand language and use it effectively, while progressive nonfluent aphasia affects your ability to speak.
Scientists don’t know exactly what causes FTD, but some people with the condition have Pick bodies in their brain cells, which causes some of the brain tissue to shrink over time. While memory loss is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease, FTD typically causes early changes in personality and behavior. It’s difficult to recognize these changes when they’re happening to you. If a loved one develops FTD, they may have trouble holding a job, maintaining their hygiene or controlling their behavior.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that causes a loss of nerve cells in the brain, resulting in personality changes, forgetfulness, involuntary movements, and other symptoms. Like FTD, Huntington’s disease typically begins at a younger age, with many people experiencing symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50. More than 40,000 Americans have symptomatic Huntington’s disease, and another 200,000 are at risk of inheriting it. Huntington’s disease is genetic, which means you develop it if you inherit a defective copy of the huntingtin gene from one of your parents.
The cognitive changes that occur in Huntington’s disease are similar to those caused by other forms of dementia, although memory loss typically occurs later in the progression of the disease. If you develop Huntington’s disease, you may have a hard time getting and staying organized, multitasking or making calculations while you cook or balance your checkbook.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused by a prion, a type of protein that causes other proteins in the brain to fold abnormally, causing them to accumulate in the brain tissues. Prion diseases can cause rapidly developing dementia as well as muscle stiffness, confusion, hallucinations, difficulty speaking and difficulty walking. Because the symptoms progress so rapidly, you may require help with daily activities. The good news is that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases are extremely rare — only 350 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.
What distinguishes CJD dementia from other types of dementia is how quickly it progresses. As the abnormally folded proteins damage brain cells, it becomes more difficult to think and reason. Damage to the brain cells also causes mood swings, agitation, disorientation and apathy. Scientists haven’t found a cure for CJD yet, but your doctor may be able to prescribe medications and other treatments to ease some of your symptoms.
Reversible Dementias
Subdural hematoma: If you sustain a head injury that causes bleeding within the skull, you may develop dementia-like symptoms. Quick treatment gives you the best chance of reversing the symptoms after such an injury.
Many people use the terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. Dementia refers to a set of symptoms associated with cognitive decline, while Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia. There are many other types of dementia that don’t fall under the Alzheimer’s classification. Below, we define each type of dementia and provide some background information on what you can expect.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive type of dementia caused by changes in the brain. These changes occur due to abnormal protein deposits that damage nerve cells, leading to a decline in your ability to think, reason, plan and remember. More than six million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
During the first stage, you may start to experience memory loss, changes in your personality, mood swings, and getting lost in familiar places. If you have an older relative with mild Alzheimer’s disease, you may notice that they ask the same question several times or take longer than usual to complete basic tasks.
The next stage, moderate Alzheimer’s disease, is characterized by worsening memory loss and confusion. You may find yourself having trouble recognizing close friends and family members. It may also become more difficult to perform activities of daily living, learn new things or cope with changing circumstances. If the disease progresses, the tissue in the brain shrinks, making it difficult to communicate.
Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia develops when alpha-synuclein, a protein, builds up in the brain. These protein deposits are known as Lewy bodies. It can be difficult to distinguish Lewy body dementia from Alzheimer’s disease because they cause some of the same symptoms. You may have trouble thinking or experience changes in your mood or behavior. Lewy body dementia can also cause abnormal movements. For example, if an older loved one has Lewy body dementia, you may notice that they move slowly or shuffle when they walk.
Lewy body dementia is one of the most common types of dementia, affecting approximately one million people in the United States alone. In addition to the cognitive changes that occur with this type of dementia, you may have visual hallucinations, balance problems, tremors, or difficulty swallowing. If you’re concerned about a loved one, watch for these signs of Lewy body dementia, along with repeated falls, changes in posture, and a loss of coordination.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia refers to cognitive decline associated with a stroke or some other type of vascular problem within the brain. These problems reduce the amount of blood flowing to the brain, depriving the brain tissue of the oxygen it needs to work properly. Like Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia can cause slower thinking, attention problems, and difficulty staying organized; however, memory loss isn’t as significant in vascular dementia as it is in Alzheimer’s disease. The severity of symptoms depends on the number of brain injuries you’ve had, how big they were, and where in the brain they occurred.
If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or another chronic health condition, it’s important to follow the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor. These conditions can cause blood clots or narrowing of the blood vessels, increasing the risk of stroke and other vascular problems. If you care for an older family member, make sure they see a doctor regularly and take all medications as prescribed.
Mixed Dementia
If you have two or more types of dementia, then you have mixed dementia. The symptoms of mixed dementia vary based on several factors, including what types of dementia you have and how far they’ve progressed. You may experience difficulty speaking, remembering things, completing daily activities, or taking care of your finances. Mixed dementia can also cause balance problems, delusions, hallucinations, or problems with movement.
When a loved one develops mixed dementia, you may notice that they don’t seem to care as much as they used to about other people’s feelings. They may also ask you the same questions over and over or repeat the same stories every time you see them. Because multiple types of dementia influence each other, it’s important for your loved one to seek medical care as soon as the symptoms appear. Dementia isn’t curable, but there are some things you can do to improve their quality of life once it’s diagnosed.
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
People with Parkinson’s disease may develop dementia as a result of structural and functional changes in the brain. Although many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s dementia are similar to those produced by other types of dementia, Parkinson’s tends to have more of an impact on daily life because it causes physical and cognitive changes. For example, you may experience tremors or have difficulty walking, making it difficult to work or participate in your hobbies.
In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, the physical symptoms are the most prominent. You may have trouble making typical facial expressions or speaking without slurring your words. Slower movements, changes in your writing and muscle rigidity are some of the other physical symptoms of the disease. If you develop Parkinson’s dementia, you may eventually experience memory problems, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, confusion or hallucinations. Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, but there are medications available to control some of the symptoms.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by changes in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. What sets FTD apart from other forms of dementia is that symptoms usually start to appear between the ages of 40 and 65. In the frontal variant of FTD, the main symptoms of the condition relate to behavior and personality. FTD may also manifest as primary progressive aphasia, which makes it difficult to communicate with others. Semantic dementia interferes with your ability to understand language and use it effectively, while progressive nonfluent aphasia affects your ability to speak.
Scientists don’t know exactly what causes FTD, but some people with the condition have Pick bodies in their brain cells, which causes some of the brain tissue to shrink over time. While memory loss is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease, FTD typically causes early changes in personality and behavior. It’s difficult to recognize these changes when they’re happening to you. If a loved one develops FTD, they may have trouble holding a job, maintaining their hygiene or controlling their behavior.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that causes a loss of nerve cells in the brain, resulting in personality changes, forgetfulness, involuntary movements, and other symptoms. Like FTD, Huntington’s disease typically begins at a younger age, with many people experiencing symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50. More than 40,000 Americans have symptomatic Huntington’s disease, and another 200,000 are at risk of inheriting it. Huntington’s disease is genetic, which means you develop it if you inherit a defective copy of the huntingtin gene from one of your parents.
The cognitive changes that occur in Huntington’s disease are similar to those caused by other forms of dementia, although memory loss typically occurs later in the progression of the disease. If you develop Huntington’s disease, you may have a hard time getting and staying organized, multitasking or making calculations while you cook or balance your checkbook.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused by a prion, a type of protein that causes other proteins in the brain to fold abnormally, causing them to accumulate in the brain tissues. Prion diseases can cause rapidly developing dementia as well as muscle stiffness, confusion, hallucinations, difficulty speaking and difficulty walking. Because the symptoms progress so rapidly, you may require help with daily activities. The good news is that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases are extremely rare — only 350 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.
What distinguishes CJD dementia from other types of dementia is how quickly it progresses. As the abnormally folded proteins damage brain cells, it becomes more difficult to think and reason. Damage to the brain cells also causes mood swings, agitation, disorientation and apathy. Scientists haven’t found a cure for CJD yet, but your doctor may be able to prescribe medications and other treatments to ease some of your symptoms.
Reversible Dementias
Subdural hematoma: If you sustain a head injury that causes bleeding within the skull, you may develop dementia-like symptoms. Quick treatment gives you the best chance of reversing the symptoms after such an injury.
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