What Are the Most Common Types of Dementia? Here’s What You Should Know

Dementia isn’t a single disease—it’s a broad term for conditions that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. But what are the types of dementia, and how do they differ?

Dementia – a range of cognitive impairments that affect a person’s thinking, behavior, and daily functioning. There are many types of dementia – each with its own set of symptoms caused by a variety of underlying conditions.

Understanding these types is crucial to detect the symptoms at an early stage and provide the necessary care to the patient. So, let’s get into the different types of dementia and how they impact individuals.

Common Types of Dementia

Vascular dementia

When vessels that supply blood to the brain get damaged, this type of dementia arises. People with vascular dementia may experience it in different ways, and the symptoms may vary depending on the cause and regions of the brain that are damaged.

While there might be many factors that contribute to the development of this illness, age, and existing health conditions can be crucial factors. It’s important to consider that vascular dementia life expectancy over 80 can be influenced by how well these conditions are managed.

Symptoms:

• having issues with organizing or planning
• not able to make decisions or solve problems
• thoughts may become slow, and problems with concentration arise
• having issues while following a series of steps
• might also show challenges with memory and language

Types: 

• Subcortical vascular dementia – is caused by reduced blood flow to the deep structures of the brain.
• Stroke-related dementia – occurs when the blood flow to the brain is suddenly stopped due to a stroke.
• Multi-infarct dementia – is caused by multiple small strokes damaging the brain.

Alzheimer’s disease

It is usually caused by the abnormal buildup of proteins in the brain that disrupts its functioning. As it progresses, the brain loses the ability to cope with it, and the patient starts to have issues with memory and thinking.

Symptoms:

• the patient suffers from severe memory issues
• their thinking and reasoning abilities start to reduce slowly
• they face difficulties while communicating
• the way they perceive things changes
• mood swings are also seen among them

Types:

• Early-onset: occurs in people under the age of 65, most common in their 40s or 50s. This is a rare condition, and people with Down syndrome may develop it.
• Late-onset: affects people over the age of 65. Its causes are not known clearly – whether it comes from genes or lifestyle factors.
• Familial: This is certainly linked to genes, and individuals having a family history of Alzheimer’s are usually prone to this.

Lewy body dementia

This is caused by the clumps of proteins in the brain cells. These deposits in the brain affect chemicals in the brain and lead to problems with mood, thinking, and behavior.

People usually show symptoms at the age of 50 or older than that. This disease can occur alone or along with other disorders in the brain. This is also a progressive condition and worsens over time.

Symptoms:

• the patient may not concentrate or stay alert
• thoughts can be disorganized or illogical
• problems in movement can also be noticed- muscle rigidity, reduced facial expressions, coordination loss, etc.

• sleep disorders are common – insomnia, excessive sleepiness in daytime
• visual hallucinations are also a major symptom

Types:

• Parkinson’s disease dementia: people who already have Parkinson’s disease can develop this type. It gradually worsens cognitive impairment.
• Dementia with Lewy bodies: this can develop without a prior Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. It is caused by the Lewy bodies that lead to cognitive decline.

Frontotemporal dementia

It is caused by damage to two sets of lobes in the brain -frontal and temporal. When nerve cells in these lobes are damaged, the connection between them and other brain parts breaks down, leading to cognitive decline.

Symptoms:

• individuals with FTD have difficulty planning and organizing
• they may show impulsive behavior and excessive emotions

• movement problems – shaky hands, problems with balance and walking
• difficulty in communicating

Types:

• Behavioral variant FTD: occurs due to damage to the frontal lobes leading to problems with behavior and personality.
• Primary progressive aphasia: occurs due to damage to the temporal lobes and causes difficulties with language.

Understanding the Different Types of Dementia and Their Effects

Understanding the various types of dementia helps families and caregivers identify specific signs and provide appropriate care.

Without identifying the symptoms, early detection of the disease is not possible, which might worsen the condition.

By knowing these types and getting the illness diagnosed on time, families can ensure that their loved ones are given proper care and attention to deal with it.