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What is Dementia?
The word dementia is an “umbrella term” that refers to many different diseases (see diagram, right).
Types of Dementia
Different types of dementia are caused by different physical changes to the brain. These diseases include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Frontotemporal dementia, including Pick’s disease
- Lewy body dementia
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Vascular dementia
It’s important to note that sometimes, symptoms of dementia can be caused by conditions that may be treatable, such as depression, thyroid disease, infections or drug interactions. That’s why it’s important that any concerns you might have be discussed with your doctor.
However, if the symptoms are not treatable and progress over time, they may be due to damage to the nerve cells in the brain. If that is the case, getting an early diagnosis is critical for you and your family, to ensure you and your care partners can get the support needed to maintain quality of life.
