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WHAT IS DEMENTIA? 

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The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. 

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These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life.

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A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

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Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but not the only one. There are over one hundred types of Dementia. 

SOME COMMON TYPES OF DEMENTIA

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. This means that gradually, over time, more parts of the brain are damaged. 

Dementia with Lewy bodies

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Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a type of dementia that shares symptoms with both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia (after Alzheimer's disease). There are several different types of vascular dementia. They differ in the cause of the damage and the part of the brain that is affected.

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Mixed Dementia 

‘Mixed dementia’ is a condition in which a person has more than one type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia is the most common type. Other combinations of dementias are also possible – particularly Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

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