Speak To An Expert
Get clear, personalised advice for your situation.
Jot down a few questions to make the most of your conversation.
What is dementia?
Dementia is not a single condition. It is a term used to describe symptoms that affect memory, thinking, communication, and daily life.
It happens when the brain is damaged by disease or illness. Different types of dementia affect people in different ways.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia in the UK. It usually begins with problems such as forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty finding the right words.
As it progresses, people may struggle with everyday tasks, such as managing money or remembering appointments. Changes in mood and behaviour are also common.
Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. This can happen after a stroke or due to a series of small, often unnoticed, strokes.
Symptoms may depend on which part of the brain is affected. People may have slower thinking, trouble concentrating, or problems with planning and organisation.
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Dementia with Lewy bodies is linked to abnormal protein deposits in the brain. It can affect memory, attention, movement, and sleep.
People may experience visual hallucinations or fluctuations in alertness, where they seem better one day and worse the next. It can also cause symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Frontotemporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and side parts of the brain. It often appears at a younger age than other types, sometimes before the age of 65.
It may cause changes in personality, behaviour, or language before memory problems become obvious. Some people become less socially aware or find it hard to speak or understand words.
Mixed dementia
Mixed dementia means a person has more than one type of dementia at the same time. The most common combination is Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
This can make symptoms more varied and harder to predict. A person may have memory loss as well as problems with thinking speed or decision-making.
Other less common types
There are several other less common types of dementia. These include Parkinson’s disease dementia, Huntington’s disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Some types of dementia are caused by conditions that can sometimes be treated, such as vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, or infections. If symptoms appear, it is important to speak to a GP as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia. They differ in typical symptoms, affected brain areas, and progression patterns.
The most common types of dementia in older adults are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, followed by Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia.
The common types of dementia are caused by different brain changes, such as abnormal protein buildup in Alzheimer’s disease, reduced blood flow or strokes in vascular dementia, Lewy bodies in Lewy body dementia, and damage to the frontal and temporal lobes in frontotemporal dementia.
Early signs of common types of dementia may include memory loss, confusion, difficulty finding words, trouble managing tasks, poor judgment, changes in behavior, and problems with planning or orientation.
Common types of dementia are diagnosed using a medical history, cognitive testing, physical and neurological exams, blood tests, brain imaging, and sometimes specialist assessments to help identify the specific type.
Common types of dementia involve persistent decline that interferes with daily life, while normal aging may involve mild forgetfulness that does not significantly affect independence or daily functioning.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and is marked by progressive memory loss, language problems, disorientation, and difficulty with everyday tasks due to brain changes that affect memory and thinking.
Vascular dementia is a common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often after strokes or small vessel disease, and may affect attention, planning, processing speed, and decision-making.
Lewy body dementia is a common type of dementia linked to abnormal protein deposits in the brain, and it can cause fluctuating thinking, visual hallucinations, sleep problems, movement symptoms, and attention difficulties.
Frontotemporal dementia is a common type of dementia that mainly affects the frontal and temporal lobes, often leading to changes in personality, behavior, language, and executive function earlier than memory loss.
Mixed dementia means a person has more than one type of brain change causing dementia, most often a combination of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Risk factors for common types of dementia include older age, family history, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, stroke, head injury, and physical inactivity.
Not all common types of dementia can be prevented, but reducing vascular risk factors, staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and protecting brain health may lower risk.
Common types of dementia are treated with a combination of medications, symptom management, support for daily living, caregiver education, and lifestyle strategies, depending on the specific type and stage.
Medications used for common types of dementia may include cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine for Alzheimer’s disease and sometimes Lewy body dementia, while other medications may be used to manage mood, sleep, or behavior symptoms.
The progression of common types of dementia varies by type and person. Alzheimer’s disease usually progresses gradually, vascular dementia may worsen in steps, and frontotemporal dementia can progress more rapidly in some cases.
Common types of dementia can affect memory, communication, reasoning, mood, safety, driving, finances, medication use, cooking, and the ability to live independently.
Support for people with common types of dementia includes memory clinics, doctors, occupational therapy, social services, support groups, counseling, respite care, and caregiver support programs.
Someone should seek medical help for common types of dementia if they notice worsening memory loss, confusion, behavior changes, language problems, or difficulty managing everyday tasks, especially if symptoms interfere with daily life.
The outlook for common types of dementia depends on the type, overall health, and stage at diagnosis. Most are progressive, but early diagnosis and supportive care can improve quality of life and help manage symptoms.
Useful Links
This website offers general information and is not a substitute for professional advice.
Always seek guidance from qualified professionals.
If you have any medical concerns or need urgent help, contact a healthcare professional or emergency services immediately.
Some of this content was generated with AI assistance. We've done our best to keep it accurate, helpful, and human-friendly.
- Ergsy carefully checks the information in the videos we provide here.
- Videos shown by Youtube after a video has completed, have NOT been reviewed by ERGSY.
- To view, click the arrow in centre of video.
- Most of the videos you find here will have subtitles and/or closed captions available.
- You may need to turn these on, and choose your preferred language.
- Go to the video you'd like to watch.
- If closed captions (CC) are available, settings will be visible on the bottom right of the video player.
- To turn on Captions, click settings.
- To turn off Captions, click settings again.