More than 55 million people are affected by dementia worldwide, and in countries with ageing populations, the number of cases is growing every year. In the United States, for example, roughly 5 million adults had dementia in 2014, but that figure is set to grow to around 14 million by 2060. Dementia can cause extreme distress not only for the person affected, but also for their relatives and loved ones as problems with memory and speech progressively become worse.

Read on to find explanations of the types of dementia, the typical symptoms of the condition and how dementia is diagnosed, or connect to other people who are living with dementia by joining Carecircle.

What is dementia?

Dementia is not a single medical condition, but instead an umbrella term for a group of symptoms that occur as the result of a number of different causes. Dementia is defined as the loss of cognitive functioning – that is, a diminished ability to think, remember or reason. This loss in cognitive functioning typically worsens over time.

Types of dementia

A large number of medical conditions can result in dementia, but a few of the typical conditions are listed below:

• Alzheimer’s disease – is by far the most common cause of dementia, and is estimated to account for around 60–70% of dementia cases worldwide.
• Lewy body dementia – is caused by deposits of Lewy bodies in the brain, which are clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. Also known as dementia with Lewy bodies.
• Vascular dementia – results from problems in the blood supply to the brain.
• Frontotemporal dementia – is a rare condition that can occur in younger people, and that results from imbalances or mutations in the proteins tau and TDP-43.

Dementia can also result from a combination of two or more medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, in which case it’s referred to as mixed dementia.

Dementia stages

Dementia is a progressive condition, and it consists of three stages: early, middle and late stage dementia. The symptoms of dementia are generally mild in the early stage but, eventually, become severe in late-stage dementia.

The speed at which dementia progresses can vary greatly from person to person, and the rate of progression can be affected by factors such as age, the underlying cause of dementia and the occurrence of other health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Early stage of dementia

The symptoms of early-stage dementia are generally mild, and generally involve memory problems such as being unable to recall certain events or losing objects like keys. The person might find themselves getting lost, or struggling to recall certain words in conversation. They might also experience sudden changes in mood and difficulty in planning.

Middle stage of dementia

In the middle stage, the symptoms from the early stage of dementia worsen: for example, a person might forget what they are saying in the middle of a conversation. Memory problems become more severe, so the person might not recognise friends and family, or they might get confused about where they are, even when in familiar surroundings. They might also experience delusions and hallucinations.

The person will begin to need more everyday support from carers, such as help with washing and dressing.

Late stage of dementia

By the later stage of dementia, the person affected will need full-time care, partly because of physical deterioration. They are likely to find it difficult to walk and eat, and could experience incontinence. They might have difficulty recalling even recent events, and may sometimes think they are living through an earlier time in their life. They may even struggle to recognise themselves in a mirror. Delusions and hallucinations become more common, and they may experience severe changes in mood, becoming aggressive or scared.

Dementia symptoms

The common symptoms of dementia include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty in following conversation
• Confusion
• Changes in mood
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Difficulty in reasoning and problem solving

Other symptoms might vary according to the underlying cause of dementia. For example, in vascular dementia, the person might experience symptoms that are similar to a stroke, such as temporary paralysis down one side of the body.

Early signs of dementia

Some of the warning signs of dementia include:

• Forgetting to do regular tasks
• Frequent memory loss, forgetting things like names and recently learned information
• Difficulty recalling the right words in conversation
• Becoming lost in familiar places
• Losing things such as watches or keys, and finding them in strange places
• Sudden changes in mood and behaviour
• Becoming uninterested in everyday activities, requiring prompting to perform tasks

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope and control with your dementia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work towards a better future.

What causes dementia?

Because dementia is not a single disease, the underlaying cause can vary according to the medical condition at the root of the problem. But overall, dementia is caused by damage to brain cells that affects the function of the brain.

In Alzheimer’s disease, which is responsible for an estimated 60–70% of cases of dementia, the damage to brain cells is caused by a build-up of the proteins amyloid and tau. Other diseases feature a build-up of different proteins: in Lewy body dementia, for example, it’s the protein alpha-synuclein.

Vascular dementia is slightly different, in that it’s caused by the narrowing or blockage of blood vessels in the brain, often as the result of a stroke.

How do you diagnose dementia?

If you’re worried that you might have dementia, speak to your doctor. They will ask a series of questions about your health and memory. It might be a good idea to bring along a friend or relative who can help to answer these questions and describe any changes they have seen in you.

Memory problems aren’t necessarily a sign of dementia: they could be linked to other issues, such as side effects from medicines, so the doctor will perform a series of tests to rule out other causes. These might involve a blood test and urine test, as well as a physical examination and some memory tests. The memory tests might be designed to assess things like concentration, short- and long-term memory, and language skills.

The doctor might then refer you to a dementia specialist who will organise further tests, possibly including an MRI or CT scan and additional memory tests.

What to do if you have dementia?

A diagnosis of dementia can be absolutely devastating. If you receive a dementia diagnosis, think about the following steps:

• Think about your legal and financial affairs – you might want to give a trusted friend or relative power of attorney to make decisions on your behalf.
• Notify the driving authorities – you will need to take a further driving assessment if you wish to continue driving.
• Seek support wherever you can – your doctor can help to arrange care visits, but you should also reach out to local support groups and charities. Joining Carecircle can help you to connect with others who are going through the same experience. If you’re caring for someone with dementia, then you’ll find a network of carers that will understand what you’re going through and your struggles.

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope and control with your dementia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work towards a better future.

Treatment for dementia

Although there is no cure for dementia, there are several treatments that can help to ease some of the symptoms.

• Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors – these drugs help to stop the breakdown of an enzyme called acetylcholine, which is involved in nerve-cell communication.
• Memantine – blocks the effects of glutamate, which can accumulate in the brain.
• Antipsychotic medicines – these may be prescribed if the person is having difficulty with problems such as delusions, hallucinations, anxiety or aggression.
• Cognitive stimulation therapy – certain exercises can help with memory and language problems.
• Reminiscence and life story work – this involves talking about events and collecting objects from your past, and can help to improve wellbeing and mood.

Dementia FAQs

Below are a few answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about dementia.

What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms involving memory problems that result from damage to brain cells. It can be caused by a number of different medical conditions, one of which is Alzheimer’s disease.

Is dementia hereditary?

In the majority of cases, dementia is not hereditary: your children or grandchildren will not inherit dementia. However, there are some rare forms of dementia – particularly ones that affect people below the age of 60 – which do have a genetic element.

How to prevent dementia?

There is good evidence to show that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent dementia. That means eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum and avoiding smoking.

Is dementia genetic?

Yes and no. In most cases, there is no genetic link that causes dementia. But some rare forms of dementia, such as Huntington’s disease, can run in families.

How many people in the UK have dementia?

According to NHS England, around 850,000 people in the UK are affected by dementia.

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope and control with your dementia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work towards a better future.

Dementia resources

Below are a few links to websites that can provide information about dementia:

• NHS: Dementia guide
• Dementia UK
• Alzheimer’s Society
• Dementia Friends

We hope that this guide has been useful if you or someone close to you has been recently diagnosed with dementia, or if you suspect you or someone close to you shows symptoms. If you’re concerned about any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, speak with your doctor. And remember that there’s a whole community out there on Carecircle who can provide support.

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope and control with your dementia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work towards a better future.

Guide sources

• NHS: Dementia guide: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/
• NHS England: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/dementia/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm
• Dementia UK: https://www.dementiauk.org/
• Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
• Alzheimer’s Society : https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/what-is-dementia
• Alzheimer Society: https://alzheimer.ca/en
• World Health Organization: Dementia: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
• National Institute on Aging: What is dementia?: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-is-dementia