Learn about Dementia
What is Dementia?
- Dementia is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive abilities, including memory, thinking, reasoning, language, and the ability to perform everyday activities.
- It primarily affects older adults but is not a normal part of aging.
Types of Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Disease: The most common form of dementia, characterized by memory loss, confusion, and behavioral changes due to the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain.
- Vascular Dementia: Caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often following a stroke or series of small strokes.
- Lewy Body Dementia: Marked by abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain, leading to cognitive and movement problems.
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): Involves damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, affecting behavior, personality, and language.
- Mixed Dementia: A combination of two or more types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.
Early Symptoms
- Memory loss, especially of recent events.
- Difficulty finding the right words or following conversations.
- Confusion with time or place.
- Poor judgment and decision-making.
- Withdrawal from work