Understanding dementia in its different forms is crucial for early diagnosis and care.
The CDC reports that 4.0% of adults age 65 and older reported a dementia diagnosis. The percentage of adults with a dementia diagnosis increases with age, from 1.7% for those ages 65–74, 5.7% for those ages 75–84, and 13.1% for those age 85 and older.
Understanding Dementia: Dementia vs. Forgetfulness
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. As we age, it’s natural to experience some forgetfulness, but dementia goes beyond that, disrupting daily life and relationships. (Where did I leave my keys vs what does this object in my hand do.) There are various types of dementia, each with unique symptoms and causes. Understanding dementia in its different forms is crucial for early diagnosis and care. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common types of dementia and how they manifest.
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While we at Be Active Be Well do not treat dementia directly, if you or a loved one is experiencing cognitive decline our Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech and Language Pathologists can provide in home supportive services. Contact us for a personalized in-home assessment in the San Francisco Bay Area: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin Counties.
Alzheimer’s Disease
- The most common form of dementia, accounting for 60% – 80% of all dementia diagnoses.
- It is caused by abnormal deposits of proteins in the brain which disrupt brain cell function and communication.
- It is a progressive brain disorder that primarily affects memory, thinking, and behavior. The first symptom is usually short term memory loss. Other symptoms include difficulty learning new information, difficulty with organizing and decision-making, poor judgement, personality and behavior changes, confusion, and difficulty speaking.
- It is known that changes in the brain are occurring many years before the onset of symptoms. The average life expectancy is 8-12 years after diagnosis.
Vascular Dementia
- The second most common form of dementia, accounting for 20 % of dementia diagnosis.
- It is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to strokes, blockages, or damaged blood vessels. This decreased blood flow deprives brain cells of oxygen and nutrients, leading to cognitive decline.
- Symptoms can vary depending on the affected brain areas but often include difficulty with problem-solving, slowed thinking, memory issues, and confusion. Unlike other forms of dementia, symptoms may appear suddenly after a stroke or develop gradually with ongoing vascular damage.
- Managing underlying conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease can help slow the progression of vascular dementia.
- Life expectancy varies with the underlying diagnosis and severity.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
- The third most common form of dementia, accounting for 10% of dementia diagnosis.
- It is caused by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brain.
- These deposits affect chemicals that control thinking, memory, movement, and mood.
- DLB shares symptoms with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, making diagnosis challenging.
- Lewy body dementia includes two different types of related dementias, distinguished by which symptoms start when
Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) – diagnosed when a person living with PD experiences significant cognitive decline after a year or more of motor symptoms (most typically after many years of experiencing motor symptoms).
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) – diagnosed when cognitive decline is the earliest symptom, or when cognitive decline and motor symptoms begin and progress together.
- The cognitive impairments affect one’s visuospatial abilities and executive function more than memory initially. Common symptoms include cognitive decline, visual hallucinations, movement problems, and fluctuations in attention and alertness. People with LBD may also experience sleep disturbances and sensitivity to medications.
- Average life expectancy is 7 years after symptoms appear.
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) also known as Pick’s Disease
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
- Unlike Alzheimer’s, FTD often begins at a younger age, typically between 45 and 65 years old. Tau protein collects in the brain creating tangles that cause cell damage.
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a group of disorders caused by progressive damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, areas responsible for behavior, personality, language, and movement.
- There are 3 subtypes:
Behavior Variant: Characterized by lack of empathy and inhibition, apathy, obsessive compulsiveness, overreacting, and impulsive behavior.
Primary Progressive Aphasia: Characterized by problems understanding language, the ability to write, read, and/or speak.
Movement Disorder: Characterized by muscle rigidity and stiffness, difficulty with balance, walking, swallowing, and restricted eye movements.
- Average life expectance is 2-10 years after diagnosis.
Understanding Dementia: Other Dementias
Post-Operative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD)
- POCD is a state in which there is cognitive decline after a surgery. Prevalence varies greatly with studies indicating as low as 2% (in non-cardiac surgery) and as high as 36% (in cardiac surgery).
- The exact cause of POCD is unknown but risk factors include: cardiac surgeries, prolonged deep anesthesia, poor pain management, 60 years or older, pre-existing cognitive impairment, pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis, history of alcohol abuse.
- Common impairments include: memory, concentration, comprehension, and/or language ability.
- It can last for weeks or months and may become permanent and there are currently no treatments.
Mixed Dementia
- A condition in which symptoms and brain damage are characteristic of more than one type of dementia and occur at the same time.
- Autopsies have shown that 45% of people with dementia had both Alzheimer’s and Vascular dementia.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- TBI is caused by an impact to the brain that disrupts normal brain function. Most commonly from an automobile accident or fall.
- Depending on the areas of the brain sustaining damage, symptoms could a wide array of symptoms.
Huntington’s Disease also known as Huntington’s Chorea
Huntington’s Disease Society of America
- This is a hereditary progressive brain disorder caused by a defective gene.
- Symptoms usually develop between the ages of 30 and 50 and include changes to movement, mood, and cognition.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Disease (WKS)
- WKS is a rare syndrome caused by vitamin B-1 (Thiamine) deficiency associated with malnutrition alcoholism.
- WKS consists of 2 stages: Wernicke Encephalopathy, sudden and severe requiring immediate treatment and Korsakoff Syndrome, a chronic memory disorder.
- Symptoms include: loss of coordination, confabulation, confusion, drowsiness, hypothermia, tachycardia, hypotension, abnormal eye movements, double vision, amnesia, and behavior changes.
Check out our other related blog topics
How to keep your brain healthy:
Resources to help you remain in your home:
- Aging Safely in Your Own Home: A Comprehensive Guide
- Downsizing – Get More from Less
- Navigating the Caregiver Journey: Resources and Practical Suggestions
- Caregiving at a Distance: Strategies for Nurturing from Afar
- What is Care Management?
- Alive Inside: The Power of Music and Alzheimer’s
Considering other living options:
Joanne Bedwell, PT is the Resident Blogger at Be Active Be Well. She lives and works in San Francisco with her husband and two (almost) grown daughters. Having over 25 years of experience as a physical therapist, she sees clients in their homes and teaches fitness classes in person and virtually.
DISCLAIMER: This article contains information that is intended to help the readers be better informed regarding health related topics. It is presented as general information and is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed physician. The reader should consult with their doctor in any matters relating to his/her health.
Contact us for a personalized in-home assessment in the San Francisco Bay Area: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin Counties.
