Types of Dementia, Symptoms and Possible Causes and Treatments

The symptoms of dementia often develop slowly and are not always obvious in the early stages. Many symptoms can also be seen in other illnesses, and telling the difference between symptoms of dementia and the usual forgetfulness seen in normal ageing can be difficult...

Where possible, diagnosing exactly which disease (or combination of diseases) is causing a person's dementia symptoms will allow you to get the right support, advice and treatment for their future. Below, we've listed the most common causes of dementia and their symptoms:

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills and the ability to carry out tasks. In most people, symptoms first appear in their mid 60's. 

Typical Symptoms Include:

• Regularly forgetting recent events, names and faces

• Repeating questions and actions after a short interval

• Misplacing things or putting them in odd places

• Regularly getting confused about the date or time 

• Being unsure of where they are or getting lost often

• Having trouble finding their words

• Changes in mood or behavior, becoming increasingly annoyed or upset

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is a type of progressive dementia that may cause sudden changes in attention and alertness, recurrent visual hallucinations, REM sleep behavior disorder and slow movement, tremors or rigidity. 

Symptoms of DLB include:

• Sudden changes in attention, alertness and level of confusion. 

• Parkinson's type symptoms; difficulty walking, stiffness and shaking or trembling

• Visual hallucinations, often involving people or animals

• Movements and talking during sleep, sometimes acting out dreams

• Fainting and falls, difficulties with balance

• Problems detecting smells

• Alzheimer's like symptoms, including memory loss and disorientation 

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia symptoms may be different depending on what area of the brain is affected. The early symptoms of Vascular Dementia sometimes look like Alzheimer's disease, but Vascular Dementia can also affect people's speech and movement. 

Symptoms of Vascular Dementia include:

• Memory problems that are affecting everyday life

• Becoming slower in thinking 

• Disorientations and feeling lost in familiar surroundings

• Communication problems such as slow or slurred speech

• Bladder control issues

• Personality changes including depression and a loss of interest in daily activities 

• Difficulty walking, shuffling the feet and losing balance more frequently 

Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is used to describe a group of disorders (including behavioural variant FTD and primary progressive aphasia) characterized by the loss of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which causes these lobes to shrink. FTD is quite rare and most commonly affects people aged 45-64.

The symptoms of FTD include:

• Changes in emotions, including how they express themselves or a lack of understanding towards other peoples feelings 

• Lack of interest, becoming withdrawn 

• Inappropriate behaviour, becoming easily distracted or impulsive 

• Overeating or changes in their usual eating habits

• Developing unusual beliefs, interests or obsessions

• Difficulty with making plans or decisions

• Being unaware to changes in their own personality or behaviour

• Decline in language and communication abilities, forgetting the meaning of words or repeating common words and phrases

• Difficulty recognising people or everyday objects 

• Problems with movement including stiff or twitching muscles, weakness and difficulties swallowing 

What causes the diseases that lead to dementia?

The exact causes of dementia are still being understood, but research is making great progress every year! Understanding the causes of dementia is essential in developing new treatments. Volunteers, both with and without dementia, taking part in research studies and clinical trials play an important role in helping our understanding of dementia, and testing new potential treatments. 

If you would like to take part in dementia research studies, join Dementia Research, a UK-wide service that will match you to research studies you are suitable for. If you would like to read more, visit Join Dementia Research or call the Dementia Research infoline on 03001115111

What we know so far...

Alzheimer's Disease

In Alzheimer's, we know that two proteins called Amyloid and Tau build up abnormally in the brain. The build up of proteins form clumps called 'plaques' and 'tangles', and interfere with the way brain cells work and communicate. The plaques are usually seen first in the area of the brain involved in making new memories.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular Dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen to the brain and without these things the brain cells die. The network of vessel's carrying blood around the body is called the Vascular System. 

There are different types of vascular dementia, these are:

• Stroke-related dementia happens after a stroke, when blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off. This may cause difficulties with movement, speech, sight and co-ordination. A stroke can also cause memory loss and problems with attention.

• Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a series of mini-strokes (Transient Ischemic Attacks, or TIA's) which can happen without a person knowing. 

• Subcortical Vascular Dementia is caused by changes to the small blood vessels in the brain and is often called 'small vessel disease'. Over time, areas of the brain used for attention, memory and language become more and more damaged. 
  

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

In Dementia with Lewy Bodies, small clumps of proteins build up inside the brain cells, disrupting cell communication. One of these proteins is called alpha-synuclein and the clumps it forms are called Lewy bodies. People with Parkinson's disease also have a build up of Lewy bodies in the brain cells used for movement. The protein clumps are found in cells that control thinking, memory and movement.

Frontotemporal Dementia

In Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) there are a number of abnormal proteins that build up in the brain including Tau, TDP-43 and FUS. The brain cells affected are in the frontal and temporal lobes. These areas control personality, emotions and behavior as well as speech and understanding of language.  

What treatments are available for dementia?

Drug Treatments

Following a dementia diagnosis your doctor will talk with you (and your carer or a member of your family if you wish) about what type of drugs are available, and how they can help to manage your symptoms. Your doctor may even refer you to specialists, such as a psychiatrist, geriatrician or neurologist. If you are prescribed a drug for dementia by either your doctor or a specialist, the treatment will be monitored by your doctor. 

People with Alzheimer's disease may benefit from a cholinesterase inhibitor, which works by increasing the amount of acetylcholine, a chemical that helps messages travel around the brain. Other medications help nerve cells communicate with each other by regulating a chemical called glutamate. 

While, unfortunately, there are no specific drugs that can help to treat Vascular Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia, other drugs can be prescribed to help the risk factors of the disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and anti-depressants are often considered to help with mood changes and anxiety. Other symptoms such as problems with movement or speech can also be managed with speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. 

While there is no cure for dementia, a combination of the right treatments, support and lifestyle changes (such as improving your diet and stopping smoking) can certainly help to slow progression and manage symptoms.  ​

Non-drug treatments 

As well as medications, there are many other complimentary and cognitive therapies that can support your dementia journey by promoting relaxation, and using activities and exercises that involve thinking, concentration and memory, encouraging the brain to form new connections. 

Cognitive Therapy 

Cognitive therapies are designed to stimulate thinking skills using games and activities and are often group-based, encouraging social interaction too! Reminiscence Therapy uses photographs, music and even objects to invoke memories and Cognitive Rehabilitation aims to nurture a sense of independence by using personalized daily goals and finding ways to achieve them. The focus is on developing strength and overcoming challenges. An occupational therapist can help identifying the challenges people with dementia may have in everyday life, such as dressing and cooking, and helps to find practical solutions. Speech and language therapy can benefit people with aphasia (which causes problems with speech, language and swallowing), a common symptom with vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia. 

Complimentary Therapies 

Complimentary therapies including massage, yoga, aromatherapy and meditation all work to calm the mind and body, and many studies have been done to show the benefits these can have on things like stress levels, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression, which can all arise alongside the usual symptoms of dementia. Aromatherapy oils like Lavender and Chamomile have been shown to have a deep calming effect on the mind, and as our sense of smell is deeply connected to memory in the human brain, scent therapy can be used to remind us of our favorite places, people and food, encouraging the feelings of happiness and peace that we associate with them. Massage, yoga and tai chi all help to keep the body active and the mind calm and focused, and meditation helps us re-connect with our inner-selves, helping the mind adapt and find moments of rest in stressful and confusing times. 

Support and Resources

Having access to support can have a huge, positive impact on someone with dementia. Following a dementia diagnosis, everyone is entitled to an assessment of their needs. Carers are also entitled to their own assessment. Some services are provided by local authorities, and others can be arranged through your doctor.

For advice and information about what support is available near you, you can contact your local services department, or, check out the links at the bottom of our Dementia Care page!