Different types of dementia

These are a number of different types of dementia:

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It destroys brain cells and nerves, disrupting signals in the brain, particularly those responsible for storing memories.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia occurs when blood vessels are damaged, which reduces the supply of oxygen to the brain and damages brain cells. The symptoms of vascular dementia can occur suddenly, following a stroke, or over time, through a series of small strokes. Vascular dementia accounts for 20%-30% of all cases of dementia.

Dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is caused by damage to cells in the brain. It takes its name from abnormal deposits of protein – ‘Lewy bodies’ – in the nerve cells of the brain. It may account for around 10-15% of all cases of dementia. Approximately half the people with Lewy body disease also develop signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Frontotemporal dementia

In frontotemporal dementia, damage is usually concentrated in the front or sides (temporal regions) of the brain. There are two main types of frontotemporal dementia:

• ‘Behavioural variant’, which affects personality and behaviour
• ‘Primary progressive aphasia’ which affects language.

In the beginning, personality and behaviour are more affected than memory.

Rarer causes of dementia

There are many other rarer causes of dementia, such as alcohol-related dementia and dementia due to HIV/AIDS.