Key Message #2

Dementia Is Caused by Diseases of the Brain
Learn about brain diseases that can cause a set of symptoms known as “dementia.”
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Did You Know?

There are several treatable causes of symptoms of dementia, such as:

  • urinary tract infections
  • side effects of medications
  • vitamin deficiencies
  • depression
  • severe hypothyroidism

What YOU Can Do

If someone you know is experiencing changes in memory, reasoning, personality, or behavior, you should speak with them and urge them to see their doctor or other health care professional. It’s important to figure out the causes of the symptoms they are experiencing, because dementia is NOT a normal part of aging and many causes of dementia can be treated.

Dementia Is Caused by Diseases of the Brain

Memory missing pieces - Dementia is caused by diseases of the brainThe word “dementia” describes a set of symptoms. It is not a disease, but a term used to describe a group of brain disorders that cause a loss in intellectual abilities, such as memory, language, visuospatial skills, calculation, abstract reasoning, judgment, and behavior. The changes are persistent and significant enough to interfere with one’s daily life.

Dementia is caused by a number of diseases that affect the brain. Several different diseases can cause dementia. Many of these diseases are associated with an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain. This build-up causes nerve cells to function less well and ultimately die. As the nerve cells die, different areas of the brain shrink.

Different types of dementia affect the brain at different rates and in different ways and are diagnosed differently. The symptoms that people develop depend on the areas of the brain that have been damaged by the disease. Each individual’s personal circumstances, the presence or lack of supportive friends and family, and the environment in which they live will affect their experience of dementia. Dementia progresses in a way that is unique to each individual.

Dementia Subtypes

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder in which brain cells are destroyed, resulting in impairment of memory, language, visuospatial skills, and executive functioning. Often starts with the inability to organize tasks. Learn more at www.alzfdn.org and alz.org.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is caused by protein deposits in the neuronal cell bodies on the frontal and temporal lobes and basal ganglia. It is reported to primarily affect men over the age of 70 and is characterized by a gradual increase of fluctuating cognitive impairment, visual hallucinations, and Parkinsonism. Individuals often experience repeated falls, brief loss of consciousness, neuroleptic sensitivity, delusions, hallucinations, sleep disorders, and depression. Approximately half of persons with dementia with Lewy bodies experience tremors, rigidity, gait abnormality, postural change, and procedural memory deficits. It presents as dementia with Parkinson’s symptoms. Learn more at www.lbda.org.

Frontotemporal Degeneration

Frontotemporal degeneration is a term used for a group of disorders characterized by atrophy in the frontal and temporal lobes. These conditions are characterized by personality and behavioral changes with less prominent memory loss early in the stage. Common personality changes include loss of personal awareness, loss of social comportment, disinhibition, impulsivity, distractibility, excessive eating, social withdrawal, repetitive behavior, and reduction of speech. Learn more at www.theaftd.org.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild Cognitive Impairment is a condition in which a person develops deficits in memory, language, or another cognitive function beyond what is typical for age-associated memory impairment. These deficits are often not severe enough to interfere with daily life but are significant enough to be noticed by friends and family members. Learn more at www.alz.org/dementia/mild-cognitive-impairment-mci.asp.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by tremors and shakiness, stiffness, difficulty with walking, motor impairments, lack of facial expression, and impaired speech. Learn more at www.pdf.org.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia can be caused by arteriosclerotic changes in the blood supply to the brain, cerebrovascular disorders, ischemic (obstruction within a blood vessel) stroke, or hemorrhagic (weakened blood vessel ruptures) stroke. Since cases do not share common etiology and mechanism, people may have different symptoms. A person with vascular dementia may experience an abrupt onset of cognitive changes, or the progression may be stepwise, fluctuating, or marked by continuous worsening. Cognitive impairment in vascular dementia can be quite variable depending on the region of the brain damage and the size of the injured area. Learn more at www.alz.org/dementia/vascular-dementia-symptoms.asp.
Go to Key Message #3

Success Stories

We love hearing how the Dementia Friends sessions have impacted you and your understanding of those with dementia. We invite you to share your experiences and successes with us!

Share Your Success Story

Senior Couple Caregiver

“There’s someone in my family who’s affected, and now I have more of an understanding of how to help this person.”

“I know what I’m going to do now. I’m going to call my sister who has dementia. I haven’t talked to her in a year because I didn’t know what to say. Now I do.”

“I now feel more comfortable reaching out to people with dementia.”

“I want to do everything I can to make my neighbor’s life more enjoyable and show her the respect she deserves.”

“I hope to help more people understand dementia.”