Common Types of Dementia | Causes, Stages, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Caregiving Tips
If a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, or even if you suspect they may have dementia, it can feel overwhelming. You probably have lots of questions, but you may not be sure where to go for the answers. This site can help, starting with this page. Below you will find links to these essential topics:
- Common types of dementia
- General facts about dementia
- Diagnosis of dementia
- Dementia treatment
- Caregiving tips
Before scrolling directly to those links, take a minute to read the next section and learn about the differences between dementia and cognitive decline caused by normal aging, also known as Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Could it Be Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Some loss of mental ability is normal with age. However, a decline in thinking ability that cannot be explained by aging alone may be due to a syndrome called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI can affect one or more areas of thinking (cognition), such as memory, speech, and decision-making. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an approximate 15-20% of seniors aged 65 years and older have MCI. Half of those individuals with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
Symptoms of MCI are often subtle and can be mistaken for normal age-related decline. Individuals with MCI often have balance and coordination problems that are not part of normal aging. To learn more about MCI, click here.
Common Types of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most well known type of dementia, but there are many other forms of dementia. Follow the links below to learn more about Alzheimer’s and other common dementias.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Vascular (Multi-Infarct) Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia
Frontotemporal Dementia
Other Types of Dementia
General Facts about Dementia
When a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, there are often many questions. As one can see from above, there are many types of dementia, but what are the causes of dementia, how is it prevented, and how does the disease progress? Click on the links below to find the answers to these questions.
Stages of Dementia
Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia
So, you suspect your loved one has dementia. Follow the links below to learn how Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are diagnosed and how they are treated.
Diagnoses of Dementia
Caring for a Loved One with Dementia
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, know that you are not alone. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 16.1 million Americans who are unpaid caregivers of people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Caregiver Tips