Various Types Of Dementia Treated At Memory Care Centers
Memory care centers are experts at dealing with seniors who are suffering with different forms of memory loss. We’re all familiar with the term “dementia,” but what many don’t know is that their are several forms of dementia. Read on to find out the various forms and their causes.
What is Dementia?
The word “dementia” simply refers to the experience of several symptoms surrounding the idea of memory loss. These symptoms include:
- Communication struggles
- Frequent fearfulness
- Having a hard time with simple calculations
- Incontinence
- Frequent frustration or mood swings
- Severe apathy
- Disorientation and difficulty holding attention
- Angry outbursts or becoming socially inappropriate
- Having difficulty performing daily tasks
- Gradually increase of physical and mental symptoms such as loss of coordination or remembering names
What are the different types of Dementia?
- MCI- MCI stands for Mild Cognitive Impairment, and is also referred to as early dementia. People with MCI are not experiencing advanced symptoms like physical impairments in speech and coordination, and they can still remember long-term memories.
- Lewy Body Dementia- Lewy Body Dementia occurs when Lewy protiens in the brain stem deplete the neurotransmitter dopamine. It can lead to Alheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Those with LBD may experience unpredictable cognitive ability, hallucinations, and a sleep disorder called REM sleep behavior disorder. REM sleep disorder is a disorder where people act out their dreams and have severe sensitivity to hallucination medication.
- Vascular Dementia- Vascular dementia is usually caused by having multiple strokes. These strokes disrupt the brain’s oxygen and blood supply. Those suffering from this may have disorientation, walk using small quick steps, sudden crying or laughing, or cognitive impairment. People who smoke, have high cholesterol or blood pressure rates are at a higher risk for getting Vascular Dementia.
- Alzheimer’s- This is the most common of all the forms of dementia. In the US, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death. As if that wasn’t scary enough, one in every 8 people over the age of 65 currently has the disease. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include loss of short term memory, getting lost in familiar places, speech and coordination struggles, changes in temperament, and not being able to complete daily tasks of living.
- Less common types- Other forms of dementia include those that affect the central nervous system, such as Pick’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Although these are not as common, they are technically types of dementia.
Many of these various types have overlapping symptoms and it’s hard to tell them apart. If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor for a diagnosis. There are several different types of medications available depending on the type, and early intervention helps slow the progression of the diseases. For more information, click here.
