Forms of Dementia in Seniors

by Heather Finch

While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, other forms of the disease exist and may manifest with a variety of symptoms. Dementia is seen most in people aged 65 years and older, though in some cases it may develop at an earlier age. It is important to remember that while dementia is a disease of the elderly population, it does not mean all seniors have dementia.

There is a normal amount of memory loss associated with aging, but it is essential to be evaluated by a physician when memory loss begins to affect day-to-day functioning. With a proper diagnosis, a person afflicted by dementia has a much better chance of slowing the progression of symptoms, living independently, and planning for the future if the disease progresses past the point the person can care for themselves.

Alzheimer’s Disease progresses slowly. The changes in memory, including problems with language or math skills, the inability to recognize what date it is or where one is, and frequently forgetting recently learned information, happen gradually. The disease is caused by lesions in the brain destroying cells, eventually causing certain areas to wither. While Alzheimer’s disease itself cannot be cured, there are treatments available that may help slow the progression.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies has many symptoms in common with Alzheimer’s Disease, but is often accompanied by fluctuating alertness (within the same day or over a period of several days), drowsiness during the day, visual hallucinations, and difficulties with movement such as stiffness, trouble balancing while doing normal activities, or shakiness. Lewy bodies are abnormal deposits of protein that form in the nerve cells of the brain, and while there are no drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the disease, the same drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s disease may be useful in managing the illness.

Frontotemporal Dementia affects the front and sides of the brain. Personality and judgement are affected, causing poor decision making, problems functioning socially, or the appearance of being emotionally disconnected. Additionally, weight gain may result from a desire to eat more often, and more, than is habitual. Frontotemporal dementia is rare, and there are no treatments currently available.

Huntington’s Disease is a genetic disorder. In about 98 percent of cases it has also been found in another family member. The age at which symptoms develop varies, but generally begin with twitches or difficulties balancing. As the disease progresses, it causes personality changes and cognitive functioning.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is diagnosed when an individual experiences problems with mental functions that are noticeable, but do not impair normal day-to-day functioning. While it may be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease, not everyone diagnosed with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s. There are studies which demonstrate the possibility of reducing the progression of the disease, but there is no treatment approved by the FDA.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is marked by slowed brain reactions, but it differs from other forms of dementia because, while it may take time to respond to a situation, the response is usually appropriate. Other symptoms may include difficulties in walking or loss of bladder control. Because NPH is caused by fluids building up inside the brain, it may be partially treated by inserting a tube (called a shunt) to drain the fluid to the abdomen.

Vascular Dementia often shows up after a stroke, and is caused by impaired blood flow to the brain. Typically, the disease progresses in a step pattern, as opposed to gradually. Confusion and difficulty concentrating tend to be major symptoms. Physical symptoms may include sudden weakness that often is associated with strokes. There will be difficulty with memory only if the memory portions are affected. Though there are no FDA-approved treatments, prevention early on in life, such as staying active, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels, and not smoking helps prevent the formation of vascular dementia. Those who are diagnosed may also be able to help slow the progression of symptoms by becoming more physically healthy.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a severe vitamin B-1 (thiamine) deficiency most often caused by alcoholism. If it is diagnosed early, treatment using high doses of vitamin B-1 may reverse some of the damage. Symptoms include the inability to retain new information and the tendency to make up stories or information they cannot remember.

More information on the different types of dementia, and for information on how to manage dementia diseases can be found at the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org or 1-800-272-3900, or at www.helpguide.org.