Mixed dementia. Sometimes more than one type of dementia is present in the brain at the same time, especially in people aged 80 and older.

There may also be problems with language skills like speaking or understanding. For instance, a previously cautious person may make offensive comments and neglect responsibilities at home or work. People with this condition may embarrass themselves or behave inappropriately. This type of dementia most often leads to changes in personality and behavior because of the part of the brain it affects. They may also have trouble sleeping at night or may experience visual hallucinations (seeing people, objects or shapes that are not actually there). Many people also experience changes in alertness including daytime sleepiness, confusion or staring spells.

In addition to more typical symptoms like memory loss, people with this form of dementia may have movement or balance problems like stiffness or trembling. The disease progresses in a step-wise fashion, meaning symptoms will suddenly get worse as the individual gets more strokes or mini-strokes. Symptoms vary depending on the area and size of the brain impacted. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are also risk factors. Vascular dementia. About 10 percent of dementia cases are linked to strokes or other issues with blood flow to the brain.

Having a first-degree relative with Alzheimer’s disease increases the risk of developing it by 10 to 30 percent. Family history is the most important risk factor. Other concerns like difficulty with walking or talking or personality changes also come later. The trademark symptom is trouble remembering recent events, such as a conversation that occurred minutes or hours ago, while difficulty remembering more distant memories occurs later in the disease. It is caused by specific changes in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease. This is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases.

What are the most common types of dementia? A physical exam, blood tests, and brain scans like a CT or MRI can help determine an underlying cause. Head injuries can increase the risk of dementia, especially if they are severe or occur repeatedly.Ī healthcare provider can perform tests on attention, memory, problem solving and other cognitive abilities to see if there is cause for concern. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking increase the risk of dementia if not treated properly. Hispanics 1.5 times more likely to have dementia than whites. Older African Americans are twice more likely to have dementia than whites. Those who have parents or siblings with dementia are more likely to develop dementia themselves. The strongest known risk factor for dementia is increasing age, with most cases affecting those of 65 years and older Not being able to complete tasks independently.Forgetting the name of a close family member or friend.Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects.Getting lost in a familiar neighborhood.Signs that may point to dementia include: Visual perception beyond typical age-related changes in vision.Reasoning, judgment, and problem solving.What are the signs and symptoms of dementia?īecause dementia is a general term, its symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Normally, knowledge and experiences built over years, old memories, and language would stay intact. Struggling to find a word but remembering it later.Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as: No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Of those at least 65 years of age, there is an estimated 5.0 million adults with dementia in 2014 and projected to be nearly 14 million by 2060.

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