What Are The Different Types of Dementia?

The term “dementia” is used for many different types of cognitive decline, including reasoning, memory, and thinking in brain disorders. Here are a few types of dementia, and their symptoms. 

Frontotemporal dementia, known as FTD, affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These lobes of the brain are responsible for a patient’s bahavior and personality, coordination and movement, language and communication, and planning and decision-making. 

FTD is a progressive disease, with symptoms that vary depending on the specific type of frontaltemporal dementia. These symptoms include:

1. Movement disorders - Patients can develop difficulty walking, suffer from tremors, or experience stiffness;
2. Behavioral changes - Aggression, which intensifies over time, apathy, disinhibition, and impulsiveness;
3. Language problems - Difficulty in remembering words, understanding language, and speaking all progress with dementia;
4. Cognitive decline - Difficulty with problem solving, attention, and memory;
5. Parkinsonism - Resembling Parkinson’s, the group of symptoms include slow movement, gait issues, and rigidity.

Another type of dementia, and the most common, is Alzheimer’s. Caused by a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, it damages nerve cells. It’s a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys cognitive functions, memory, and thinking. While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s isn’t known yet, scientists do know it can be genetic, due to age, or come from abnormalities in brain chemistry. The main symptoms are:

1. Difficulty finding words or using language correctly - Even the simplest words can be difficult to remember;
2. Memory loss, including recent events - Time and place cause confusion for Alzheimer’s patients;
3. Changes in behavior or mood - Loved ones often cite this as an early indicator that something is wrong with the patient;
4. Disorientation and confusion - Can be confused in normal, regular situations, such as shopping or attending family gatherings; 
5. Problems organizing - Tasks become overwhelming and patients describe issues organizing daily tasks, such as with medication management;
6. Difficulty recognizing loved ones - The most cruel symptom of Alzheimer’s takes away the ability for patients to recognize friends and family;
7. Severe agitation - This progresses over time, like all symptoms, and requires a consistent routine to help manage it, as well as reducing noise and distraction as the disease progresses.

Another progressive dementia is Lewy Body Dementia, or LBD, named for Dr. Friedrich Lewy, a German neurologist. This type of dementia causes a build up of protein clumps called alpha-synuclein in the brain. This type of dementia can cause behavioral problems, issues with thinking and movement, as well as fluctuating cognitive problems. Hallucinations and motor symptoms much like Parkinson’s are also reported as symptoms of LBD. Many patients with Lewy Body Dementia also report:

1. Issues with bodily functions, considered automatic, like blood pressure, bladder control, and digestion;
2. Sleep disorder, such as REM sleep behavior disorder, that include acting out in dreams;
3. Depression;
4. Memory problems.

Lewy Body Disease progresses slowly, and can last from 5 to 7 years, from diagnosis to death. Though there are some treatments in the early stages of LBD, there is currently no cure. Lifestyle and genetics are the biggest factors in who gets diagnosed with Lewy Body Disease.

There are still more types of dementia that our residents at Modern Care Homes are diagnosed with. For each, we help the patients and their loved ones and physicians to provide the best care possible in our assisted living homes. From diet to exercise to medication management, our staff is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of our residents.