Understanding the Different Types of Dementia

WebMD defines dementia as “a broad term for loss of thinking ability that’s severe enough to interfere with your daily life.” Rather than one disorder, it’s a group of disorders with various symptoms that affect your thinking, cognitive abilities, and even your personality. Worse still, according to the same article by WebMD, around 5 to 8 percent of adults aged 65 and older have some form of dementia. If you’re experiencing memory loss, you shouldn’t panic and assume the worst. But if you’re in the early stages of dementia, you should pay close attention to your symptoms. A memory lapse here or there might not point to Alzheimer’s…but it could indicate another type of dementia. But what are the types of dementia? What are their symptoms? And what should you do if you think you’re in the grips of cognitive decline?

Alzheimer’s Disease

According to current data, over 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Sadly, that number is projected to rise to 13 million by 2050 (per The Alzheimer’s Association). To put those stats into perspective, that means around 1 and 9 people over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s! It’s not only the most common cause of dementia, but it has no cure. This neurodegenerative disease slowly destroys your memory, language skills, and even your coordination. And while Alzheimer’s affects every person differently, common symptoms include:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Poor judgment or impaired decision-making
3. Impaired sense of time or location
4. Losing or placing things in odd places
5. Mood or personality changes

Vascular Dementia

Oftentimes, vascular dementia is caused by strokes, which block an artery in your brain. You might also be at risk for vascular dementia if you have high blood pressure or diabetes. Age, obesity, and smoking are also other risk factors. While symptoms of vascular dementia vary, symptoms may include:

1. Confusion
2. Depression
3. A frequent urge to urinate or incontinence
4. Memory issues
5. Trouble making up your mind
6. Trouble paying attention to your surroundings or concentrating on tasks
7. Struggling to communicate your plans or needs to others
8. A sudden lack of organization
9. Slowed thinking
10. An unsteady or clumsy gait
11. Difficulty with organization

Lewy Body Dementia

According to Alzheimer’s.gov, Lewy body dementia is caused by abnormal clumps of protein called alpha-synuclein. Known as “Lewy bodies”, they accumulate in the area of your brain responsible for thinking, memory, and movement. Sadly, scientists have yet to discover the cause of LBD. The disease typically starts at around age 50 or so. LBD can shorten your lifespan, with most patients living an average of five to eight years after diagnosis. Worse still, LBD is the second most common cause of dementia, right after Alzheimer’s. Symptoms range depending on the person, but common ones include:

1. Visual hallucinations
2. Slowed movement and a tremor
3. Cognitive changes
4. Changes in bodily functions
5. Depression

Frontotemporal Dementia

There’s been a buzz in the news about frontotemporal dementia lately, thanks to Die Hard actor Bruce Willis’ recent diagnosis. This is the most common type of dementia in people under the age of 60. According to Johns Hopkins, FTD is actually a group of disorders that strike when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes shrink. The most common types include the frontal variant and primary progressive aphasia, which is the kind former TV host Wendy Williams was diagnosed with in 2023. Sadly, there’s no cure for FTD. However, researchers do know that a family history is the only known risk factor for frontotemporal dementia. While symptoms progress slowly and vary from case to case, the most common ones include:

1. Personality and behavioral changes, such as swearing when they didn’t before, being sexually aggressive or inappropriate, etc.
2. A lack of self-awareness
3. Trouble with language, such as a trouble finding or saying certain words
4. Impaired judgment
5. A loss of motivation
6. Apathy
7. A sudden lack of empathy
8. Hesitant or less frequent speech
9. Agitation

More Dementia Resources

If you’re looking for more Alzheimer’s and dementia resources, then start here:

Senior Resource Health & Wellness Blog

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Resources

Alzheimer’s Speaks Podcast with Lori La Bey

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