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Types of Dementia

4 January 2024

Dementia is a medical condition characterized by the appearance of symptoms that indicate impaired brain function, such as memory loss, difficulties in daily functioning, and behavioural changes.

Prevalent diseases that cause dementia are:

  • Alzheimer's disease.
  • Vascular dementia.
  • Lewy body dementia.

Other diseases that can cause dementia, although less common, include:

  • Frontotemporal dementia (frontal and temporal lobes).
  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
  • Dementia associated with AIDS.
  • Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome.
  • Dementia due to depression.

Further information on dementia and risk factors

Dementia is a medical condition characterized by a range of symptoms that suggest an underlying dysfunction in brain function. The most common symptoms are memory decline, difficulties in daily functioning, and behavioral changes.

The following are the most common diseases that cause damage to brain tissues and result in dementia:

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and 60%-70% of dementia patients have it. This disease causes cell degeneration of the brain tissue and is characterized by a gradual functioning decline.

Although the causes of Alzheimer's disease are unknown, it is believed that a combination of genetic and environmental factors, as well as lifestyle-related factors may contribute to the development of the disease.

In rare cases, the onset of Alzheimer’s disease at an early age is an obvious genetic disposition.

Vascular dementia

20% of dementia patients suffer from vascular dementia, and it is caused by damage to the brain’s blood vessels, usually following a stroke or blood disease. It is possible to reduce the risk of vascular dementia by balancing factors such as hypertension, diabetes, blood fats, etc.

Lewy body dementia

Lewy body dementia affects 10%-20% of patients and is distinguished by fluctuations in cognitive and behavioral function, later accompanied by mainly visual hallucinations, as well as Parkinson-like symptoms (such as tremors, decreased mobility, and muscle stiffness).

Additional and rarer diseases that cause dementia

  • It is mainly characterized by behavioral changes
  • Sometimes the patients suffer from speech impairment
  • In advanced stages, the symptoms resemble those of Alzheimer's disease

  • Mild memory loss and cognitive function decline in individuals aged 50 years or older
  • Without functioning impairment
  • It is a risk factor for dementia, but primarily for Alzheimer's disease

  • A rare disease
  • It is caused by a special protein (prion) attacking the brain tissue and causing it to collapse
  • It is associated with the Mad cow disease that attacks cattle

  • It may develop among advanced-stage AIDS patients
  • It is often observed that the onset of the disease occurs at a younger age than the average age of onset for other types of dementia

  • It is characterized by memory impairment without damage to orientation and speech functions
  • It may be caused by a disruption to oxygen supply to the brain during surgery
  • Often appears among alcoholics due to lack of vitamin B1
  • Additional populations at risk: pregnant women who suffer from recurrent vomiting, people after bariatric surgery

  • Dementia symptoms which appear among people suffering from depression
  • Symptoms may pass after treating depression

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