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Did you know there are over 120 different types and forms of dementia? Most people know about Alzheimer disease, but how much do you know about the other most common forms of dementia? These dementias do have several things in common: they are all chronic, progressive, terminal, and start with deterioration of at least two parts of the brain. Yet, they have some important differences to consider when providing support and care. Do you know the characteristics of the most common forms of dementia? Read on to find out.

1. Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia and is by far the most well-known. Most cases of Alzheimer are diagnosed later in life. Yet, approximately 5-10% of cases are diagnosed before the age of 65, which is typically referred to as Young-onset Alzheimer disease. There are also other forms of Alzheimer disease that are even less common. Alzheimer disease results in the deterioration of brain cells with the accumulation of abnormal proteins. Early symptoms include difficulty with short-term memory, word-finding, complicated unfamiliar tasks, and interpreting the meaning behind words. Old memories, familiar routines and habits, motor skills, and emotional connections are typically preserved until later in the condition and can be an important source of comfort and connection.

2. Vascular Dementia

The second most common form of dementia is vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is caused by disease of the small blood vessels of the brain, which results in small strokes and areas of bleeding that damage brain cells. Hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking are major risk factors for vascular dementia. One of the hallmarks of this form of dementia is that progression is very unpredictable – an individual can seem to be functioning well, cognitively, only to experience significant confusion later that day. Using observational clues to assess the person’s status before approaching can be extremely helpful.

3. Mixed Dementia

Mixed dementia is when more than one type or form of dementia is present. Up until a few years ago, mixed dementia was not well-recognized, but it is now thought to be the third most common form of dementia. Most commonly, this form involves a combination of Alzheimer and vascular dementia, but it can certainly involve other dementias instead. With a wide variety of symptoms, mixed dementia can be tricky to diagnose. Recent research is indicating that mixed dementia is significant because the combination of more than one dementia may result in a faster, more dramatic progression of the disease. If the symptoms do not seem to match up well, you may wish to ask about the possibility of mixed dementia.

4. Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy Bodies, also known as Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), is considered to be the fourth most common form of dementia. In this type, a form of protein known as Lewy bodies accumulates in the brain cells and disrupts their function. Dementia with Lewy Bodies has some unique symptoms that are less commonly seen in other dementias (unless there is an additional acute illness), including vivid hallucinations, delusional thinking, intention tremors, sleep disturbances, frequent falls, or fluctuating/declining motor skills. Memory function may not be affected early in LBD, however, the person may have episodes of confabulation, seeming to make things up. Appreciating the difference between LBD and other dementias can make the situation much more understandable and help you seek the right support.

5. Frontotemporal Dementia

The fifth most common form is Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which includes many different subtypes. In Frontotemporal dementia, the brain cells in the frontal and/or temporal regions of the brain deteriorate due to an abnormal protein accumulation. Depending on the subtype, symptoms can include changes in behavior or personality, lack of impulse control, impaired judgment, communication challenges, or a decrease in cognitive and executive functioning.  As in some other forms of dementia, memory is often not significantly affected in the early stages, but life is certainly changing significantly.

Conclusion

There are many more types and forms of dementia. Click here to view a document featuring some of the most common types. 

Why does the type of dementia matter? Why is it important to try to receive an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible? One reason is that certain types of dementia, such as Dementia with Lewy Bodies, can cause severe reactions to certain medications. Individuals with these forms of dementia can have unexpected and even life-threatening side effects from different types of medicine. 

Another reason is that each form of dementia often has some of its own unique symptoms that occur. For example, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, even in an earlier state, can cause the inability to regulate body temperature, digestion, and other automatic body processes. Frontotemporal dementia can sometimes cause personality and behavior changes that occur long before any other dementia symptoms arise. Learning about the different forms of dementia and their symptoms can help reduce some surprises and confusion and help you to plan for effective support.

Additionally, each form of dementia has a different progression. Therefore, knowing the type of dementia can help you better prepare for the future and give you the opportunity to provide the best possible care and support.

Additional Resources:

If you would like to know more about the different types of dementia, try these recorded webinars with dementia care expert Teepa Snow:

Vascular Dementia: What Does It Look Like and How to Help

Understanding Lewy Body Dementia: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Frontotemporal Dementia: What It Is and How to Help

Which Dementia Is It? Getting to Know the Various Forms and Types