As discussed in the previous blog, Dementia is a broad term used to describe a range of conditions that affect memory, cognitive function, and daily life. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most well-known form, there are several types of dementia, each with distinct characteristics. Understanding these types can help caregivers, healthcare professionals, and families provide the best care and support for those affected.

     1. Vascular Dementia

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These deposits, called Lewy bodies, affect chemicals in the brain whose changes, in turn, can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behaviour, and mood. Lewy body dementia is one of the most common causes of dementia.

Diagnosing LBD can be challenging as early LBD symptoms are often confused with similar symptoms found in other brain diseases or psychiatric disorders. Lewy body dementia can occur alone or along with other brain disorders.

It is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms start slowly and worsen over time. The disease lasts an average of five to eight years from the time of diagnosis to death but can range from two to 20 years for some people. How quickly symptoms develop and change varies greatly from person to person, depending on overall health, age, and severity of symptoms.

In the early stages of LBD, symptoms can be mild, and people can function fairly normally. As the disease advances, people with LBD require more help due to a decline in thinking and movement abilities. In the later stages of the disease, they often depend entirely on others for assistance and care.

Symptoms include visual hallucinations, sleep disturbances, fluctuating attention, and movement difficulties similar to Parkinson’s disease. People with LBD may also experience mood changes, confusion, and difficulty with problem-solving.

While LBD currently cannot be prevented or cured, some symptoms may respond to treatment for a period of time. An LBD treatment plan may involve medications, physical and other types of therapy, and counselling. A plan to make any home safety updates and identify any equipment can make everyday tasks easier.

      3.Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language. It affects the front and sides of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes). Dementia mostly affects people over 65, but frontotemporal dementia tends to start at a younger age. Most cases are diagnosed in people aged 45-65, although it can also affect younger or older people. Like other types of dementia, frontotemporal dementia tends to develop slowly and get gradually worse over several years.

Signs of frontotemporal dementia can include:

• Personality and behaviour changes – acting inappropriately or impulsively, appearing selfish or unsympathetic, neglecting personal hygiene, overeating, or loss of motivation
• Language problems – speaking slowly, struggling to make the right sounds when saying a word, getting words in the wrong order, or using words incorrectly
• Problems with mental abilities – getting distracted easily, struggling with planning and organisation.
• Memory problems – these only tend to occur later on, unlike more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease

There may also be physical problems, such as slow or stiff movements, loss of bladder or bowel control (usually not until later on), muscle weakness or difficulty swallowing. These problems can make daily activities increasingly difficult, and the person may eventually be unable to look after themselves.

    4. Mixed Dementia

A lot of people have more than one type of disease in their brain, particularly as they get older. The most common types are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular or blood vessel disease, and Lewy body disease.

When an older person has dementia, it’s probably not because of a single type of brain disease but rather a combination of different ones. Unfortunately, it’s still very difficult to see all the different types of disease in the brain of a living person.

This is why a doctor is likely to base their diagnosis on the main type of disease they think is present and causing symptoms. The most common diagnoses are Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.

Sometimes, a doctor may find that a person has clear signs and symptoms of at least two different types of dementia. When this happens, they will make a diagnosis of mixed dementia.

Symptoms of mixed dementia?

There’s no fixed set of symptoms for mixed dementia. This is because a person’s symptoms depend on the relative contributions of each type of dementia that they have. To know more about the likely symptoms of mixed dementia, you need to learn about the symptoms of the different types involved. It’s common to have more symptoms of one type than another.

Common types of mixed dementia

Most diagnoses of mixed dementia tend to be a combination of two different types. Here, we look at the two most common types of mixed dementia – Alzheimer’s disease with vascular dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease with Lewy body disease.

Alzheimer’s disease with vascular dementia is the most common type of mixed dementia. It’s caused by a person developing Alzheimer’s disease and at the same time having diseased or damaged blood vessels supplying their brain. The two different types of disease combine to make symptoms worse than they would be on their own.

Less often, dementia can be caused by a mixture of Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body disease.  Lewy body disease is a brain disease that can either cause dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or Parkinson’s disease dementia.

      5. Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

Parkinson’s disease dementia is a decline in thinking and reasoning skills that develops in some people living with Parkinson’s at least a year after diagnosis. The brain changes caused by Parkinson’s disease begin in a region that plays a key role in movement, leading to early symptoms that include tremors and shakiness, muscle stiffness, a shuffling step, stooped posture, difficulty initiating movement and lack of facial expression.

As brain changes caused by Parkinson’s gradually spread, the person may also experience changes in mental functions, including memory and the ability to pay attention, make sound judgments and plan the steps needed to complete a task.

The key brain changes linked to Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia are abnormal microscopic deposits composed chiefly of the protein found widely in the brain, Lewy bodies.

Some studies have reported that the average time from onset of Parkinson’s to developing dementia is about 10 years. One study found that about three-quarters of people who live with Parkinson’s for more than 10 years will develop dementia. Before they develop dementia, they experience milder cognitive changes called mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Certain factors at the time of Parkinson’s diagnosis may increase future dementia risk, including advanced age, greater severity of motor symptoms and mild cognitive impairment. Additional risk factors may include:

• The presence of hallucinations in a person who doesn’t yet have other dementia symptoms.
• Excessive daytime sleepiness.
• A Parkinson’s symptom pattern known as postural instability and gait disturbance (PIGD), which includes “freezing” in mid-step, difficulty initiating movement, shuffling, and problems with balancing and falling.

Symptoms

      6. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

       7. Huntington’s Disease Dementia

Huntington’s disease is an inherited genetic condition that causes dementia. It causes a slow, progressive decline in a person’s movement, memory, thinking and emotional state. Huntington’s affects about 8 in every 100,000 people in the UK. It usually affects people aged between about 35 and 45, but symptoms can appear in younger adults and children.

Huntington’s disease is normally diagnosed when a person starts to have problems with controlling their movements. Many people with Huntington’s disease may have been having emotional and behavioural symptoms for years before this, such as:

• Severe depression
• Apathy
• Irritability
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviours.

They are also more likely to misuse alcohol or drugs or to self-harm.

In the early stages of Huntington’s, some people may develop symptoms of dementia such as problems with their thinking and perception. They may be less able to recognise other people’s emotions. They may also find it difficult to concentrate, plan and remember things. Because of these symptoms and emotional problems, the person may have difficulties with their relationships and work.

The memory problems that people with Huntington’s disease have are often different to the memory problems that people with Alzheimer’s disease have. For example, people with Huntington’s may have a good memory of recent events but often forget how to do things (known as ‘procedural memory’). Those affected may continue to recognise people and places until the very late stages of the disease, unlike people with Alzheimer’s disease.

During the later stages of Huntington’s disease, the person may have a lot of difficulty with moving, eating or speaking. They will be likely to need more personal care and support.

Huntington’s is a genetic condition. If a person has one parent who carries the faulty gene that causes Huntington’s disease, they will have about a 1 in 2 chance of inheriting the condition. If people are worried that they may carry the gene, they can ask their GP to refer them for genetic testing and counselling.

How can Homecare Gurus help?

While dementia is a challenging condition, understanding the different types can help in early diagnosis and appropriate care planning. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of dementia, it is important to seek medical advice for an accurate diagnosis and support.

At Homecare Gurus, we understand the unique challenges that dementia presents and our compassionate carers are here to provide bespoke dementia care.

If you or someone you know is affected by dementia, we are here to help. Contact Homecare Gurus for more information about our dementia care services and how we can support you.

Phone: +44 1494 211729
Email: solutions@homecaregurus.co.uk