Understanding Dementia: Types, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Dementia is an umbrella term to describe declining brain function, characterised by impaired memory, reasoning and thinking and social abilities, which can be severe enough to disrupt daily life. In recent times, dementia has emerged as one of the most pressing health challenges, affecting over 55 million people worldwide – a number projected to nearly “triple” by 2050. Despite its prevalence, dementia remains widely misunderstood. Many people assume it’s a normal part of aging, when in fact it results from specific diseases and conditions that damage brain cells. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different types of dementia, uncover their underlying causes, identify key symptoms to watch for, and discuss current treatment options and management strategies.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a progressive decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with independent living. Unlike normal age-related forgetfulness, such as misplacing keys, dementia involves persistent and worsening difficulties that disrupt everyday activities like managing finances, cooking, or maintaining conversations.

Dementia occurs when brain cells become damaged and lose their ability to communicate with each other. Different parts of the brain control different functions, so the specific symptoms depend on which areas are affected. This is why dementia presents differently from person to person.

The progression of dementia typically moves through stages, from mild impairment that slightly affects daily tasks, to moderate decline requiring more assistance, and eventually to severe dementia where individuals need full-time care and may lose the ability to communicate or recognize loved ones.

What are the Types of Dementia?

Dementia can develop due to several conditions that affect the brain. These include:

Alzheimer’s Disease

The most common form, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s occurs when abnormal protein deposits (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) accumulate in the brain, causing nerve cells to die. It typically begins with memory loss and progresses to affect language, reasoning, and behavior.

Vascular Dementia

The second most common type, resulting from reduced blood flow to the brain, often after strokes or damage to blood vessels. Symptoms can appear suddenly after a stroke or develop gradually. People may experience difficulties with planning, judgment, and processing speed, though memory may be less affected initially.

Lewy Body Dementia

Caused by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brain. This type is characterized by fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and movement problems similar to Parkinson’s disease. People may also experience sleep disturbances and sensitivity to certain medications.

Frontotemporal Dementia

A group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the frontal and temporal lobes. Unlike Alzheimer’s, it typically affects younger people (ages 45-65) and primarily impacts personality, behavior, and language rather than memory in the early stages. People may become socially inappropriate, impulsive, or lose empathy.

Mixed Dementia

Many people, especially those over 80, have a combination of types, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia occurring together. This can complicate diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes Dementia?

Dementia develops when brain cells are damaged and can no longer communicate properly. Different factors can lead to these changes, and each affects the brain in its own way as listed below:.

1. Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Changes

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause. It develops due to the build-up of two proteins in the brain: amyloid plaques and tau tangles. These proteins disrupt the way brain cells function and eventually lead to cell death. The areas responsible for memory are usually affected first, which is why forgetfulness is often an early sign.

2. Reduced Blood Flow to the Brain

Problems with blood vessels can result in vascular dementia. Strokes, blood clots or long-term conditions such as high blood pressure can reduce the supply of oxygen and nutrients to brain tissue. When parts of the brain do not receive enough blood, they become damaged, leading to difficulties with thinking, planning and concentration.

3. Abnormal Protein Deposits

Lewy body dementia develops due to the presence of abnormal protein clumps called Lewy bodies in brain cells. These deposits interfere with brain signals and can cause changes in alertness, sleep patterns, movement and visual perception.

4. Damage to the Front and Side Areas of the Brain

Frontotemporal dementia is caused by progressive cell loss in the frontal and temporal lobes. These areas are responsible for behaviour, language, judgement and social interactions. The exact reason for this degeneration is still being studied, although genetic factors play a role in some cases.

5. Combined Brain Changes

Mixed dementia involves more than one underlying cause, such as Alzheimer’s disease together with vascular damage. This combination leads to a wider range of symptoms because multiple brain processes are affected at the same time.

6. Genetic Conditions

Certain inherited disorders can cause dementia. Huntington’s disease is one example, in which a faulty gene leads to the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. Over time, this affects thinking, movement and behaviour.

7. Prion Diseases

Rare conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease occur due to abnormal proteins called prions. These proteins trigger rapid brain degeneration, leading to severe memory loss, coordination problems and changes in mood or behaviour.

8. Brain Fluid Imbalance

Normal pressure hydrocephalus develops due to the accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This increase in fluid pressure affects memory, balance and bladder control. Treatment can sometimes improve symptoms if detected early.

9. Infections Affecting the Brain

Certain infections can lead to dementia symptoms. HIV-associated dementia develops when the virus affects brain tissue in later stages of the illness. Early treatment of HIV reduces the risk of this complication.

10. Other Possible Contributors

Some conditions do not directly cause dementia but may increase the risk. These include long-term alcohol misuse, repeated head injuries and long-standing untreated health issues such as thyroid problems or severe vitamin deficiencies. Addressing these factors may help reduce the likelihood of brain changes linked to dementia.

What are the Common Signs of Dementia?

Dementia affects memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to manage daily activities. The symptoms listed below offer a clearer picture of how dementia can appear in day-to-day life:

• Memory loss that affects daily activities: Difficulty remembering recent conversations, misplacing items more often or asking repeated questions because new information is hard to retain.
• Problems with language and communication: Trouble finding the right words, pausing frequently during speech or struggling to follow conversations in busy or unfamiliar environments.
• Difficulty carrying out familiar tasks: Challenges in completing routines such as cooking, organising household chores or managing bills, even when these tasks were handled easily earlier.
• Confusion about time or place: Losing track of dates, forgetting current locations or feeling disoriented in familiar surroundings, especially during periods of stress or fatigue.
• Reduced ability to plan or solve problems: Slower thinking, difficulty following multi-step instructions or trouble making decisions that require reasoning or judgement.
• Changes in mood or emotional responses: Increased anxiety, irritability, sadness or sudden mood shifts that do not match the situation, as the brain struggles to manage emotional regulation.
• Withdrawal from social or leisure activities: Reduced interest in hobbies, reluctance to meet others or avoidance of group conversations due to difficulty keeping up.
• Changes in behaviour and personality: Unexpected actions such as restlessness, pacing, suspicious behaviour or repeating the same activities due to changes in brain circuits that control behaviour.
• Problems with visual and spatial understanding: Difficulty recognising faces, understanding visual details, judging distances or navigating through spaces, especially in dim light.
• Poor judgement and reduced safety awareness: Decisions that seem unusual or risky, such as unsafe driving, handling money carelessly or failing to recognise hazardous situations.

How is Dementia Diagnosed?

Dementia diagnosis involves several steps that help identify the cause of symptoms and understand how the condition is progressing:

Medical History and Symptom Review

A detailed discussion of symptoms is the first step in diagnosis. Information is gathered on when memory problems began, how quickly they progressed and how thinking or behaviour has changed over time. Past illnesses, long-term health conditions, medications and family history are also reviewed, as these factors may increase the risk of dementia or contribute to similar symptoms.

Physical Examination

A physical examination helps identify health issues that may contribute to cognitive changes. Blood pressure, heart function, reflexes and coordination are checked. Conditions such as strokes, infections or long-term medical disorders can sometimes produce symptoms that resemble dementia, so a thorough check-up is essential.

Cognitive and Neuropsychological Tests

Standardised tests assess several areas of brain function. These include memory, language, attention, problem-solving, visual understanding and the ability to carry out multi-step tasks. Longer neuropsychological assessments may also be used to measure subtle changes that short tests may not detect. The results help determine the severity of impairment and point towards specific types of dementia.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are used to rule out medical conditions that can cause memory problems or confusion. These tests check for thyroid disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency, infections, liver and kidney function and metabolic conditions. Treating these issues can sometimes improve symptoms, which is why ruling them out is an important part of diagnosis.

Brain Imaging Scans

Imaging tests provide valuable information about brain structure and function. Each type of scan has a specific role in the diagnostic process.

• MRI scan: Provides detailed images of brain tissue and helps identify strokes, tumours, structural abnormalities and patterns of shrinkage linked to Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia.
• CT scan: Detects major changes such as bleeding, fluid build-up and large areas of tissue damage. It is often used when an MRI is not suitable.
• PET scan: Shows how active different parts of the brain are. It can detect reduced brain activity and identify protein changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia types.

Psychiatric Evaluation

A psychiatric assessment helps determine if mood disorders, anxiety or other mental health conditions are contributing to symptoms. Depression and severe anxiety can produce memory and concentration problems that resemble dementia, so this evaluation is important for an accurate diagnosis.

Functional Assessment

This assessment focuses on day-to-day abilities. Tasks such as managing finances, preparing meals, keeping track of appointments and self-care activities are reviewed. Understanding the level of independence provides valuable information about the stage of dementia and the type of support needed.

What are the Stages of Dementia?

Dementia usually progresses through three broad stages. Each stage reflects increasing changes in memory, thinking and daily functioning.

Early Stage (Mild Dementia)

The early stage involves subtle changes that may appear similar to normal ageing. Memory lapses become more noticeable, especially for recent events. There may be occasional difficulty finding words, organising tasks or managing responsibilities that require planning. Mood changes such as irritability or anxiety can also appear. Most daily activities remain manageable, although complex tasks may start to require support.

Middle Stage (Moderate Dementia)

The middle stage brings more obvious symptoms. Memory loss affects daily routines, and confusion about time, place or familiar people becomes more common. Conversations and instructions may be harder to follow. Behavioural changes, disturbed sleep and reduced judgement often appear. Assistance becomes necessary for activities such as dressing, cooking and personal care, and structured routines offer important stability.

Late Stage (Severe Dementia)

The late stage involves significant loss of cognitive and physical abilities. Communication becomes very limited, and recognition of familiar faces may decline. Mobility reduces, and there is a higher risk of infections and incontinence. Full support is needed for all daily activities. Care during this stage focuses on comfort, dignity and maintaining quality of life.

What are the Treatment Options?

Dementia treatment focuses on slowing symptom progression, supporting daily activities and improving overall well-being. The options below reflect the main approaches used in clinical care:

Medicines

Medicines can help manage symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and changes in behaviour. Some treatments support chemical activity in the brain to improve thinking in certain types of dementia. Other medicines may be recommended to ease anxiety, restlessness or sleep problems. These do not cure dementia but can provide noticeable relief for many individuals.

Treatment of Underlying Health Conditions

Some medical conditions can worsen cognitive problems. Treating thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, infections or metabolic issues can prevent symptoms from progressing. Managing long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol is especially important in vascular dementia.

Cognitive Stimulation and Rehabilitation

Activities designed to engage memory, communication and problem-solving can help maintain cognitive skills. Cognitive rehabilitation focuses on practical goals, including strategies to remember tasks, follow routines and manage daily activities more confidently.

Behavioural and Emotional Support

Changes in behaviour and mood are common in dementia. Support may include behavioural therapy, counselling and structured routines that help reduce stress. Adjustments to the home environment can also improve comfort and reduce confusion.

Lifestyle Measures

Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, good sleep habits and mentally stimulating activities support both brain and physical health. These measures may help stabilise symptoms and improve daily functioning.

Long-Term and Supportive Care

As dementia progresses, assistance with daily tasks becomes essential. Support may include help with personal care, meals, medicines and maintaining a safe home environment. In advanced stages, full-time care or specialised dementia support may be recommended to ensure comfort and dignity.

Final Note

Living with dementia or supporting someone through it can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. If you or a loved one are experiencing memory concerns, confusion or changes in thinking abilities, seeking professional evaluation is an important first step. Get a thorough assessment at Graphic Era Hospital where our specialists conduct thorough assessments to identify what’s causing your symptoms, and create a personalised treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. Book a consultation at Graphic Era Hospital by calling us at 1800 889 7351.