How Many Types of Dementia Are There? Understanding Memory Disorders

According to Time, 4 in 10 U.S. citizens are likely to develop dementia once they're over 55 years old. With these statistics, it's crucial to understand common memory disorders for early detection and support.

Dementia is a memory disorder that isn't just one condition. It includes a wide range of cognitive impairments that alter memory, thinking, and behavior.

As a concerned person, you may be wondering, "How many types of dementia are there?" That's what this blog aims to unravel.

Uncover the most common types, including Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia.

Understanding Dementia

Dementia begins by damaging the neural pathways in the brain's white matter. The normal brain's connectivity gets altered, preventing proper processing and sending of information.

At first, there are minor cognitive symptoms, like forgetfulness and anxiety, which you may mistake for aging. As dementia progresses, the brain neurons sustain more damage, leading to mild symptoms like:

• Memory loss
• Mood swings
• Emotional sensitivity
• Stress and depression
• Agitation or restlessness

Failing to seek comprehensive memory care early increases the risk of brain shrinkage. This is where the neural pathways die, leading to issues like:

• Difficulty in communicating
• Severe memory loss
• Inability to eat, dress, or wash independently
• Walking problems

Types of Dementia Explained

Understanding the types of dementia can help you ask assisted living and memory care staff the right questions. Below are the forms of dementia that cause senior cognitive decline.

Alzheimer's Disease

Dementia vs Alzheimer's disease is a common comparison, but Alzheimer's is known for its fast progression. Its ability to quickly impair memory and thinking makes it an issue of concern today.

Alzheimer's disease begins when protein clumps start accumulating between brain cells. These proteins are amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles.

Amyloid-beta plaques help with memory and cognition, while tau tangles form the structure of brain neurons' microtubules. These proteins may get twisted abnormally, leading to clumping. Their continued accumulation disrupts the normal functioning of brain cells and neurons.

Communication between brain neurons gets altered over time, leading to:

• Mood changes, such as unexplained anxiety, depression, and agitation
• Inability to remember things, like names and recent events
• Speech problems
• Hallucinations
• Confusion
• Disorientation

Alzheimer's disease has various risk factors, including:

• Family history of Alzheimer's
• Genetics
• Cardiovascular problems like valve failure and hypertension

Vascular Dementia

Adequate blood flow to the brain is key to keeping brain cells healthy and functional. When there is restricted blood flow, the brain cells are deprived of nutrients and oxygen.

They then become stressed, declining their ability to process and send information. Over time, cognition declines, and memory loss begins. This is what memory care specialists refer to as vascular dementia.

The disorder is more common in seniors with underlying health problems like:

• Diabetes
• Blood vessel disease
• A history of stroke or multiple strokes
• Obesity
• Heart rhythm abnormalities

Vascular dementia comes in three forms: strategic infarct, multi-infarct, and subcortical vascular dementia.

Strategic infarct results from a single large stroke, which damages the brain. Multi-infarct dementia results from multiple mild strokes. Subcortical vascular dementia happens when blood vessel disease damages brain cells.

All types of vascular dementia have common symptoms, which include:

• Language problems
• Memory loss
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Poor judgment
• Changes in personality

Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy body dementia happens when clumps of proteins (Lewy bodies) build up in the brain. Like with Alzheimer's disease, Lewy bodies reduce the effectiveness of brain neurons. The neurons end up dying, leading to cognitive decline.

Lewy body dementia tends to affect a person's attention, making it difficult to:

• Focus or concentrate
• Stay alert
• Multitask
• Drive safely

Other common symptoms of this form of dementia include:

• Inability to make decisions
• Inability to react to changing situations
• Difficulty in thinking logically
• Inability to walk safely

Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia damages parts of the brain's cerebral cortex -- frontal and temporal lobes. Abnormal protein clumps accumulate in these regions, damaging the nerve cells/neurons.

Frontotemporal dementia impairs language and movement abilities. But in the early stages, it doesn't affect the memory.

This form of dementia comes in various forms, and these include:

• Primary progressive aphasia
• Logopenic Aphasia
• Progressive non-fluent aphasia
• Behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia
• Semantic dementia

Seniors with frontotemporal dementia may show various symptoms, such as:

• Inability to understand common words
• Loss of vocabulary
• Speech delays
• Inability to repeat what someone else says
• Inability to adapt to new environments or situations
• Loss of motivation
• Declined personal care

Mixed Dementia

Mixed dementia happens when more than one type of memory loss disorder affects an individual. For instance, your loved one may be battling Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia without knowing.

This co-occurrence leads to more serious brain damage and faster cognitive decline. People with mixed dementia tend to forget the faces of their family members. They may also not remember their own names.

Other symptoms of mixed dementia include:

• Coordination problems
• Inability to stand upright
• Spatial awareness challenges
• Behavioral alterations
• Mood swings and irritability

Visiting an Assisted Living and Memory Care Community

An assisted living and memory care community has professionals who are well-versed with dementia care tips. They offer personalized care services to address your elderly loved one's particular emotional and cognitive needs.

Assisted living and memory care communities also allow seniors to engage in wellness activities and events. Your loved one can participate in:

• Group gardening
• Book clubs
• Nature journaling
• Shared dining
• Recreational activities
• Movie nights

These activities help improve mood, which stimulates neurons in the brain. The services and amenities in memory care communities also allow seniors to relax. This reduces stress and anxiety, slowing down cognitive decline.

Assisted living and memory care have structured routines for seniors with dementia. The routines foster a sense of purpose and enhance concentration ability.

How Many Types of Dementia Are There? Understanding Senior Cognitive Decline

How many types of dementia are there? This is a question many struggle with. Each type has unique characteristics, emphasizing the importance of personalized care.

Addington Place of Carroll fosters dignity and quality of life for those navigating dementia. We prioritize engaging social life, personalized care, and stress-free living to keep residents healthy and happy in Carroll, IA. Our lifestyle programs and services help seniors with dementia thrive in their environment.

Let us walk this journey with you -- together. Call us today!