Types of Dementia

Dementia is a condition resulting from improper functioning of the brain because of nerve cell damage due to reversible and irreversible causes. Brain tumours & infections, head injury, vitamin B12 deficiencies, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, uncontrolled diabetes and toxins are some of the common causes of reversible dementia.

Irreversible, Progressive Dementias

Alzheimer’s Disease

Most common cause of dementia. Accounts for 70% of dementia. Higher incidence in women.

Vascular Dementia

Second most common cause and accounts for 20% of the dementia. 1 in 3 people with Stroke are likely to develop dementia.

Lewy Body Dementia

Third most common cause. 10 – 15% of dementia. Parkinson’s disease dementia is also grouped here.

Fronto Temporal Dementia

Also known as FTD, is a rare type of dementia. It is thought to account for less than one in 30 dementia cases. Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 45 and 64

Posterior Cortical Atrophy

(PCA) is an uncommon type of dementia that usually begins by affecting a person’s vision. It is also known as Benson’s syndrome, ‘visual variant’ or ‘visual-spatial’ Alzheimer’s disease.

Primary Progressive Aphasia

A rare type of dementia seen in people aged 50 – 60 yrs. It is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control our language, personality, emotions and behaviour. In most cases PPA is caused by Fronto Temporal dementia

Young Onset Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of young onset dementia, accounting for 1 in 3 of all young onset dementia cases, usually affecting people in the ages of 40, 50 and below 65. The next common cause is young onset vascular dementias.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

MCI is a condition where people experience memory and thinking problems. It is not a type of dementia but for some people it can lead to the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Rare Forms of Dementia

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Cortico basal syndrome. Progressive supra nuclear palsy. Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. Huntington’s disease.