Monday, March 25, 2024
HomeHealthWhich Disease Is The Most Common Form Of Dementia

Which Disease Is The Most Common Form Of Dementia

What Is Dementia Symptoms Types And Diagnosis

Understanding Lewy Body Dementia

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning thinking, remembering, and reasoning to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living.

Dementia is more common as people grow older but it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia.

There are several different forms of dementia, including Alzheimers disease. A persons symptoms can vary depending on the type.

Alzheimer ‘s Disease : The Most Known And Common Form Of Dementia

Alzheimers is a disease that affects a lot of older people. It not only affects the person but their families, friends, and any loved ones. The disease makes them forget almost everything they have experienced in their life. The memories they have of anything can be almost nil and they will not act like themselves anymore. This disease is a hard disease for someones family members to cope with because the person they once knew, is all but gone. In this paper I will be explaining the definition

Causes Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of 2 proteins called amyloid and tau.

Deposits of amyloid, called plaques, build up around brain cells. Deposits of tau form “tangles” within brain cells.

Researchers do not fully understand how amyloid and tau are involved in the loss of brain cells, but research into this is continuing.

As brain cells become affected in Alzheimer’s, there’s also a decrease in chemical messengers involved in sending messages, or signals, between brain cells.

Levels of 1 neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, are particularly low in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Medicines like donepezil increase levels of acetylcholine, and improve brain function and symptoms.

These treatments are not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but they do help improve symptoms.

Read more about treatments for dementia.

The symptoms that people develop depend on the areas of the brain that have been damaged by the disease.

The hippocampus is often affected early on in Alzheimer’s disease. This area of the brain is responsible for laying down new memories. That’s why memory problems are one of the earliest symptoms in Alzheimer’s.

Unusual forms of Alzheimer’s disease can start with problems with vision or with language.

Read more about Alzheimer’s disease.

Recommended Reading: Alzheimer’s Disease Neurotransmitters

How Many Types Of Dementia Exist

There are hundreds of different types of dementia and dementia-like conditions. Dementia is a broad description of diseases and symptoms that cause damage or loss of nerve cells and their connectivity to the brain.

As a result of this broad definition, dementia can also include some more rare forms of dementia, disorders that are often linked with dementia, and even be confused with dementia-like symptoms that are associated with other conditions.

Who Can Diagnose Dementia

Types of dementia

Visiting a primary care doctor is often the first step for people who are experiencing changes in thinking, movement, or behavior. However, neurologists doctors who specialize in disorders of the brain and nervous system are often consulted to diagnose dementia. Geriatric psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and geriatricians may also be able to diagnose dementia. Your doctor can help you find a specialist.

If a specialist cannot be found in your community, contact the nearest medical school neurology department for a referral. A medical school hospital also may have a dementia clinic that provides expert evaluation. You can also visit the Alzheimers Disease Research Centers directory to see if there is an NIA-funded center near you. These centers can help with obtaining a diagnosis and medical management of conditions.

You May Like: What Color Represents Alzheimer’s

Dementia With Lewy Bodies

The third most common type of dementia is Lewy body dementia , formed when alpha-synuclein proteins that build up along neurons cause cell damage and eventual neural death. This causes dementia symptoms that are similar to Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia, though the hallmark symptom of memory loss often doesnt present itself until later in the stages of Lewy body dementia.

This type of dementia accounts for five to ten percent of dementia diagnoses and primarily affects people between the ages of 50 and 85. Typically, people live for five to eight years after a diagnosis of LBD. Symptoms and treatment of this disease are similar to other dementias, but have some key differences.

Is There Treatment Available

At present there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, one group of drugs called cholinergeric drugs appears to be providing some temporary improvement in cognitive functioning for some people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Drugs can also be prescribed for secondary symptoms such as restlessness or depression or to help the person with dementia sleep better.

Community support is available for the person with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and carers. This support can make a positive difference to managing dementia. Dementia Australia provides support, information and counselling for people affected by dementia. Dementia Australia also aims to provide up-to-date information about drug treatments.

Further help

For more information contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.

For a range of books and videos contact our Library.

For advice, common sense approaches and practical strategies on the issues most commonly raised about dementia, read our Help Sheets.

Recommended Reading: Alzheimer’s Awareness Color

Is Dementia A Cure For Dementia

Dementia is a neurodegenerative, progressively deteriorating and terminal clinical syndrome characterized by a loss or decline in memory and other cognitive abilities. Most recent scientific thinking is that dementia may be caused by various diseases and conditions affecting over 5 million Americans and 27.7 million worldwide. It is projected that the number of Americans with dementia will exceed 7.7 million by the year 2030 and from 11 to 16 million by the year 2050. There is presently not a cure

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Dementia

World Alzheimer’s Day: Genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors affect brain FRANCE 24

Signs and symptoms of dementia result when once-healthy neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die. While everyone loses some neurons as they age, people with dementia experience far greater loss.

The symptoms of dementia can vary and may include:

  • Experiencing memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion
  • Difficulty speaking, understanding and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing
  • Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighborhood
  • Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills
  • Repeating questions
  • Not caring about other peoples feelings
  • Losing balance and problems with movement

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities can also develop dementia as they age, and recognizing their symptoms can be particularly difficult. Its important to consider a persons current abilities and to monitor for changes over time that could signal dementia.

Recommended Reading: Dementia Ribbon Colour

Who Has Alzheimers Disease

  • In 2020, as many as 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimers disease.1
  • Younger people may get Alzheimers disease, but it is less common.
  • The number of people living with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65.
  • This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060.1
  • Symptoms of the disease can first appear after age 60, and the risk increases with age.

Get To Know Common Forms Of Dementia

Find out more about cognitive changes from Alzheimers, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia.

What is dementia? Instead of a specific disease, dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. According to the World Health Organization, dementia is associated with a decline in functionfrom memory loss to difficulty thinking, problem-solving or communicatingthats severe enough to impair a persons ability to perform everyday activities. Although most people who live with dementia are older adults, it is not a normal part of healthy aging. Theres no cure for dementia: a persons symptoms will get worse as more brain cells are damaged. And while there is no cure for the disease process itself, at Amica we believe that through cognitive rehabilitation, theories of neuroplasticity and strategies and support from trained and compassionate staff, we help manage the symptoms to delay the functional decline. Most of us probably know someone affected: currently, an estimated 564,000 Canadians live with dementia in 15 years, that number is expected to reach 937,000.

Recommended Reading: Dementia Awareness Ribbon

What Is The Cause Of Alzheimers Disease Poorly Understood

The cause of Alzheimers disease is usually poorly understood. Most of risk factors associated with its development are environmental and genetic. The strongest genetic risk factor is from an allele of APOE. Other risk factors include a history of head injury, clinical depression and hypertension. The disease process is largely associated with amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary confusion and loss of neuronal connections in the brain.

Rarer Causes Of Dementia

What is Dementia?

There are many rarer diseases and conditions that can lead to dementia, or dementia-like symptoms.

These conditions account for only 5% of dementia cases in the UK.

They include:

  • problems with planning and reasoning

These symptoms are not severe enough to cause problems in everyday life.

MCI can be caused by an underlying illness, such as depression, anxiety or thyroid problems.

If the underlying illness is treated or managed, symptoms of MCI often disappear and cause no further problems.

But in some cases, people with MCI are at increased risk of going on to develop dementia, which is usually caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more about how to prevent dementia.

Read Also: Aphasia In Alzheimer’s

Major Types Of Dementia

Of course, there are different types of dementia depending on factors such as the cause as well as the symptoms and overall progression of the condition. Learn about these types now.

1. Alzheimers Disease

The most common form of dementia in the general population is referred to as Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers disease develops when clumps of certain proteins referred to as tangles and plaques build up in the junctions in between the nerve cells.

Alzheimers disease patients also experience a decrease in certain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are responsible for the passing of signals between the cells.

Symptoms that Alzheimers disease is interfering with a patients daily life include losing items around the house, forgetting names of family members and friends, unable to remember recent events and conversations, get lost on a familiar route or in a familiar place, forget significant dates, and do not remember to attend appointments.

Alzheimers disease patients may also struggle to follow a conversation, repeat themselves often, have reduced visuospatial skills, are unable to make decisions, cannot carry out a sequence of tasks, unable to solve problems, lose track of the day, experience mood changes, and lose interest in hobbies and activities that they once enjoyed.

Every case is different, but most patients have a life expectancy of between eight and ten years following the onset of their first symptoms.

2. Vascular Dementia

3. Lewy Body Dementia

How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed

There is currently no single test to identify Alzheimer’s disease. The diagnosis is made only after careful clinical consultation.

The clinical diagnosis might include:

  • A detailed medical history
  • Lumbar puncture for cerebral spinal fluid tests
  • Medical imaging

These tests will help to eliminate other conditions with similar symptoms such as nutritional deficiencies or depression. After eliminating other causes, a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be made with about 80% to 90% accuracy if the symptoms and signs are appropriate. The diagnosis can only be confirmed after death by examination of the brain tissue.

It is important to have an early and accurate diagnosis to determine whether a treatable condition other than Alzheimer’s disease, is causing the symptoms. If Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed, medical treatment and other assistance can be discussed.

You May Like: Ribbon Color For Alzheimer’s

What Are Some Risk Factors For Alzheimers Disease

Risk factors for the development of Alzheimers disease include:

  • Age. Increasing age is the primary risk factor for developing Alzheimers disease.
  • Genetics . There is a certain gene, apolipoprotein E that is associated with late-onset Alzheimers disease. Other genes have been associated with early-onset Alzheimers disease.
  • Smoking
  • Obesity

Researchers believe the presence of the last five risk factors mentioned above might reduce the clearance of amyloid protein from the brain, which then increases the risk of developing Alzheimers disease. In particular, the presence of a number of these risk factors at the same time and while the person is in his or her 50s is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimers disease.

There may be some ways to reduce the risk of mental decline. In general, living a healthy lifestyle protects the body from strokes and heart attacks and is believed to also protect the brain from cognitive decline. Scientists cant absolutely prove the cause and effect of the following factors, but studies have shown a positive association.

The Clinical Trials For Alzheimer ‘s Disease

Common Form of Dementia Could Be Treated with Blood Pressure Drug

the only way to find better drugs, prevention, and even a cure for Alzheimers disease. Participants will try new treatments and answer whether they are effective and safe. The Alzheimer ‘s Association provides a clinical trial matching program, TrialMatch, to help Alzheimers patients find clinical trials that best fit them. Meanwhile, the association has been donating many promising research studies.Since people with Alzheimers have problems in doing daily tasks, the caregiver plays a significant

Recommended Reading: What Color Is The Alzheimer’s Ribbon

/6early Symptoms Of Lewy Body Dementia

The symptoms of Lewy body dementia progresses slowly and gets worse over time. But the way the symptom of this condition progresses depends on several factors like age, health and genes. As per a study published in the National Library of Health, the decline in the ability to recognise facial expressions can be an early warning sign of Lewy Body Dementia that should not be taken lightly. Based on the findings of a study, the researchers concluded that patients suffering from this kind of dementia had a hard time recognising the expression, other than happiness.

Alzheimer ‘s Disease Is The Most Common Form Of Dementia

Do you know what alzheimers disease is? Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the fifth leading cause of death in ages 65 and older. 2010 Alzheimer ‘s Disease Facts and Figures. Rep. Vol. 6. Chicago: Alzheimer ‘s Association, 2010. Print. Alzheimer ‘s and Dementia. This disease is the deterioration of the brain that can, and probably will lead to brain loss that cannot be reversed. It is a very slow decline that

You May Like: Difference Between Dementia And Senility

/6what Did The Study Reveal

In the study carried out between March 2016 to July 2017, researchers examined the characteristics of recognition of the six facial expressions of “happiness,” “sadness,” “fear,” “anger,” “surprise,” and “disgust”. They researched 107 people aged 60 years and more, diagnosed with dementia. In the end, it was revealed that a patient suffering from Lewy Body Disease, could recognise happiness and it was the only facial expression that was unaffected by ageing, onset, and duration of the disease. These people also faced difficulty in understanding the expression of fear, the study found.

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Alzheimer Disease

What is Dementia? Dementia vs Alzheimer

Alzheimer diseaseWhat is Alzheimer disease?Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia in the United States. It usually starts with recent memory loss then progresses to forgetting where you are, familiar faces and names. Eventually, the disease continues to progress and patients develop impaired mobility, difficulty swallowing, and inability to care for themselves. Alzheimer disease is a major cause of disability and death in the United States.Due to the importance of this condition

Also Check: What’s The Difference Between Parkinson’s And Alzheimer’s

What Is Known About Alzheimers Disease

Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimers disease. There likely is not a single cause but rather several factors that can affect each person differently.

  • Age is the best known risk factor for Alzheimers disease.
  • Family historyresearchers believe that genetics may play a role in developing Alzheimers disease. However, genes do not equal destiny. A healthy lifestyle may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimers disease. Two large, long term studies indicate that adequate physical activity, a nutritious diet, limited alcohol consumption, and not smoking may help people. To learn more about the study, you can listen to a short podcast.
  • Changes in the brain can begin years before the first symptoms appear.
  • Researchers are studying whether education, diet, and environment play a role in developing Alzheimers disease.
  • There is growing scientific evidence that healthy behaviors, which have been shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, may also reduce risk for subjective cognitive decline. Heres 8 ways.

Causes Of Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Lewy bodies are tiny clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein that can develop inside brain cells.

These clumps damage the way the cells work and communicate with each other, and the brain cells eventually die.

Dementia with Lewy bodies is closely related to Parkinson’s disease and often has some of the same symptoms, including difficulty with movement and a higher risk of falls.

Read more about dementia with Lewy bodies.

You May Like: Dementia Color Ribbon

Risk Factors And Prevention

Although age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia, it is not an inevitable consequence of biological ageing. Further, dementia does not exclusively affect older people young onset dementia accounts for up to 9% of cases. Studies show that people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline and dementia by being physically active, not smoking, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, controlling their weight, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Additional risk factors include depression, social isolation, low educational attainment, cognitive inactivity and air pollution.

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular