Knowing the Difference Between the 7 Types of Dementia

Dementia care assisted living facilities support the long-term care of seniors with dementia. Since the disease affects the memory and thinking skills of patients, they will need assistance in fulfilling their daily needs.

Most seniors in dementia care assisted living have either mild dementia or Alzheimer’s disease--the most common form of dementia that accounts for 75% of all dementia cases.

However, dementia care facilities also accommodate older adults experiencing any of the seven other types of dementia. Here are key pieces of information that differentiate these uncommon diseases from one another.

1. Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, next to Alzheimer’s. It is a condition where the brain’s blood vessels get damaged, thus cutting off or decreasing the supply of blood in a particular area. As a result, a person will experience a significant decline in thinking and reasoning skills due to low oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain. There are also problems in focus, organization, and problem-solving, which are all more noticeable than memory loss.

2. Lewy Body Dementia

This disease refers to a progressive type of dementia that happens because of abnormal clumps of protein found in the brain called Lewy bodies. These tiny lumps damage the brain over time and cause symptoms like:

• Visual hallucinations and delusions.? Uncoordinated, slow movements, gait imbalance, and parkinsonian movement features.? Problems in thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving.? Insomnia, paranoia, and confusion.

3. Frontotemporal Dementia

From its name, this disease mainly affects the frontal and temporal parts of the brain which are responsible for speech, language, and personality. That’s why its earliest symptoms include extreme changes in personality and behavior and speech problems.

4. Mixed Dementia

Mixed dementia refers to a health condition where a senior experiences not one but two or three other forms of dementia simultaneously. Science has yet to discover why this happens. The most common combination is Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia.

5. Parkinson’s Disease

Unlike the above-mentioned illnesses, Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects normal body movements. Common symptoms include:

• Muscle rigidity? Tremors even while at rest? Gait and balance problems? Slowed movements

Over time, these physical symptoms will slowly progress and give way to cognitive symptoms like memory loss, concentration, and reasoning troubles. Since there’s no cure, the disease will get worse with time, and most seniors eventually develop dementia.

6. Huntington’s Disease

Another nervous system disorder, Huntington’s disease is a health condition characterized by abnormalities in movement, thinking skills, and mood. This happens because of a defective gene that damages the nerve cells and spinal cord. It usually develops earlier than others, during 30 to 50 years of age. However, during rare times, it can manifest as early as age 2.

7. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Normal-pressure hydrocephalus refers to a brain disorder that happens when there’s excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles (small veins) of the brain. It is included as an additional type of dementia because of its Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, such as:

• Forgetfulness and short-term memory loss.? Difficulty completing tasks and disinterest in daily activities.? Cognitive decline.? Loss of bladder control and difficulty in walking.

Bayshire Rancho Mirage is a reasonable senior living community in Rancho Mirage, CA. We provide various services like assisted living, independent living, memory care and skilled nursing facility. For more query call us at 760-340-5999.