TBI Blog: Review Types of Dementia

Jack Sisson's TBI Blog

A hug is duct tape for the soul.

From The Daily Mail:

There are several types of dementia... including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia, frontal lobe dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Not everyone has all the symptoms of one particular type – some people are diagnosed as having mixed dementia – and they affect individuals to different degrees and progress at different rates.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. It is thought to be due to plaques and tangles in the brain causing brain cells to die faster than they would in normal ageing. The first signs are usually forgetting recent events, repetition, confusing things or getting lost. People may also become depressed and/or irritable, and lose interest in doing things. Eventually they may need help with everyday tasks.

Vascular dementia, the second most common, happens when there is any interruption in the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain, as with strokes. People with high blood pressure, heart problems, high blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) are more at risk so it is important to identify and treat these conditions quickly.

Frontal lobe dementia may not provoke memory problems in early stages. It can cause dramatic personality change, eg, from quiet and unassuming to loud and aggressive.

Lewy bodies are abnormal proteins in the nerve cells of the brain. As well as the symptoms of AD, Lewy bodies dementia can trigger hallucinations, and cause problems with balance and walking. This condition is sensitive to neuroleptic (often called antipsychotic) drugs, which are prescribed for other dementias but can lead to severe side effects, even death, in Lewy bodies dementia.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not dementia. This diagnosis is given for mild memory problems, when someone is, for instance, becoming forgetful and has difficulty concentrating. MCI does not necessarily lead to dementia.

Link to The Daily Mail.

Labels: Alzheimer's disease, dementia, frontal lobe, Lewy bodies dementia, MCI, mild cognitive impairment, vascular dementia