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What Is Mixed Dementia? It is common for people to have mixed dementia—a combination of two or more disorders, at least one of which is  dementia . A number of combinations are possible. For example, some people have both  Alzheimer’s disease  and vascular dementia. Some studies indicate that mixed dementia is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. For example, autopsy studies looking at the brains of people who had dementia indicate that most people age 80 and older had mixed dementia—a combination of brain changes related to Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid and tau), cerebrovascular disease (such as  stroke ), and, in some instances, Lewy body dementia (Lewy bodies). These studies suggest that mixed dementia is caused by both Alzheimer’s-related neurodegenerative processes and vascular disease-related processes. In a person with mixed dementia, it may not be clear exactly how many of a person’s symptoms are due to Alzhei...

BASICS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA What Is Dementia? Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living. Signs and symptoms of dementia result when once-healthy neurons (nerve cells) in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die. While everyone loses some neurons as they age, people with dementia experience far greater loss. While dementia is more common as people grow older (up to half of all people age 85 or older may have some form of dementia), it is  not  a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia. One type of dementia,...

BASICS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA What Is Dementia? Various disorders and factors contribute to the development of dementia. Neurodegenerative disorders result in a progressive and irreversible loss of neurons and brain functioning. Currently, there are no cures for these types of disorders. They include: Alzheimer’s disease Frontotemporal disorders Lewy body dementia Other types of progressive brain disease include: Vascular dementia and vascular cognitive impairment Mixed dementia, a combination of two or more disorders, at least one of which is dementia Other types of dementia can often be halted or even reversed with treatment. For example, normal pressure hydrocephalus, an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, often resolves with treatment. In addition, certain medical conditions can cause serious memory problems that resemble dementia. These problems should go away once the conditions are treated. These conditions include: S...

Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are often used interchangeably as many people believe  that one means the other. In fact, the distinction between the two diseases often causes confusion on the behalf of patients, families and caregivers. Discover how the two diagnoses, while related, are remarkably different. Alzheimer’s and dementia are still a mystery in many ways. This is why the two similar diseases are often mixed up in every day conversation and understanding. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dementia is a brain disorder that affects communication and performance of daily activities and Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that specifically affects parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. Read on to discover more particulars on how the two diseases vary and why there’s still a lot of scientific research needed—as well as public awareness—around these world-wide epidemics. Wha...

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD), also referred to simply as Alzheimer's, is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and worsens over time.It is the cause of 60% to 70% of cases of dementia.The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events (short-term memory loss).As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems with language, disorientation (including easily getting lost), mood swings, loss of motivation, not managing self care, and behavioural issues. As a person's condition declines, they often withdraw from family and society.Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death.Although the speed of progression can vary, the average life expectancy following diagnosis is three to nine years. The cause of Alzheimer's disease is poorly understood.About 70% of the risk is believed to be genetic with many genes usually involved.Other risk factors include a history of head injuries, ...

What is Dementia ? Dementia is a broad category of brain diseases that cause a long term and often gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember that is great enough to affect a person's daily functioning.Other common symptoms include emotional problems, problems with language, and a decrease in motivation.A person's consciousness is usually not affected. A dementia diagnosis requires a change from a person's usual mental functioning and a greater decline than one would expect due to aging.These diseases also have a significant effect on a person's caregivers. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, which makes up 50% to 70% of cases. Other common types include vascular dementia (25%), Lewy body dementia (15%), and frontotemporal dementia. Less common causes include normal pressure hydrocephalus, Parkinson's disease, syphilis, and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease among others. More than one type of dementia may exist in the same person....