Understanding the Different Faces of Dementia

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Dementia is an umbrella term that encompasses many different illnesses and diagnoses. There are over 70 different types of dementia.

Here is an overview of the most common types of dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for nearly 70% of all cases. It typically presents later in life, around age 70 or beyond, and the risk of developing AD increases with age. It is progressive but can develop slowly over many years.

Symptoms: Progressive memory loss, difficulties with cognition and reasoning, emotional and mood changes, behavioral issues, and physical mobility challenges.
Distinctive Symptom: Progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment.

Vascular Dementia (VaD)

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia and is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain, most commonly from a stroke or TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). The risk factors for vascular dementia overlap with those for heart disease and stroke. The best prevention strategy for VaD is to prevent heart disease and stroke by following healthy lifestyle recommendations.

Symptoms: Vary depending on which area of the brain was deprived of oxygen. Symptoms can include memory loss, difficulty with reasoning and executive functioning.
Distinctive Symptom: Aphasia resulting from impact to the language center of the brain. Both expressive and receptive aphasia are possible and create challenges for communication.

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)

Lewy Body Dementia is caused by the formation of protein deposits called Lewy bodies that interrupt the brain’s signals and interfere with normal functioning.

Symptoms: A hybrid of symptoms of both Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, including memory loss, physical mobility changes such as rigidity and tremors, loss of motor control, apathy, depression, sleep disturbances, daytime fatigue, trouble with language and word finding, and hallucinations.
Distinctive Symptom: Hallucinations, which are uncommon in other forms of dementia; rigidity and tremor, which are not early-stage symptoms in other forms of dementia.

Mixed Dementia

Mixed dementia is a combination of at least two specific dementias. The most common hybrids are Alzheimer’s Disease with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease with Lewy Body Dementia. The combination of two forms of dementia can have a greater impact on the brain than either of the dementias on their own. Progression of the disease varies greatly from person to person.

Symptoms: Includes symptoms from both types of dementias.
Distinctive Symptom: There is no distinctive symptom for mixed dementia since it encompasses different types of dementias and can present uniquely in each person depending on the specific combination of symptoms they are experiencing.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal lobe, which controls judgment, insight, self-awareness, and understanding of what is socially acceptable. FTD presents at a young age, with symptoms typically appearing between the ages of 45-65.

Symptoms: Lack of social awareness or empathy for the feelings of others, disinhibition, loss of judgment, blunted emotions, and language difficulties.
Distinctive Symptom: Lack of empathy or concern for the emotions of others while maintaining a strong memory for details.

Early Onset Dementia

Early onset dementia impacts individuals as young as their 40s-60s and progresses quite rapidly compared to AD. It should not be mistaken for the first stage of AD; it is not possible to have early onset at age 90.

Symptoms: Memory loss, difficulties with thinking and reasoning, cognitive impairment, confusion and disorientation, physical mobility, and dexterity issues.
Distinctive Symptom: Young age of onset, prior to age 65.

This is just a quick summary overview of the distinct symptoms that differentiate these main types of dementia. For more information on these dementias, including success strategies to assist someone experiencing each type, be sure to read the full blog entry for each of the dementias above.

Posted By:

Chloe Hamilton at 12:40 PM

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