Types of Dementia: What You Need to Know

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is not just memory loss.

It is a group of symptoms that affect how the brain works. The brain cells get damaged. This changes how someone thinks, remembers and behaves. It gets worse over time.

Dementia is not a normal part of getting old.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia.

About 6 in 10 people with dementia have Alzheimer's. It happens when proteins build up in the brain. These proteins damage brain cells and stop them working. Memory problems come first. Then other thinking skills get worse.

Alzheimer's gets worse slowly over many years.

What You Will See

• Forgetting recent events and conversations
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Struggling to find the right words
• Trouble making decisions
• Changes in mood and behaviour

What Happens Over Time

Alzheimer's has three stages.

In the early stage, your parent can still do most things. They need some help with complex tasks. In the middle stage, they need more support with daily tasks. In the late stage, they need full-time care.

The whole journey usually takes 8 to 10 years.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia happens when blood flow to the brain gets reduced.

It is the second most common type. About 2 in 10 people with dementia have this type. Strokes or small blood vessel disease cause it. When the brain does not get enough blood, cells die.

This type can happen suddenly after a stroke or develop slowly.

What You Will See

• Problems with thinking speed and concentration
• Difficulty planning and organising
• Depression or mood swings
• Walking problems or weakness on one side
• Memory problems (but not always the first sign)

The Pattern of Decline

This type can work differently to Alzheimer's.

Some people get worse in sudden steps after each stroke. Others decline slowly. Your parent might stay stable for months, then suddenly get worse. This makes planning care harder.

Each person's journey is different with this type.

Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy body dementia comes from protein deposits in the brain.

About 1 in 10 people with dementia have this type. Tiny clumps of protein (called Lewy bodies) build up in brain cells. These affect chemicals that send messages in the brain. It shares features with both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

This type has some unique signs that help doctors spot it.

What You Will See

• Seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
• Alertness that changes during the day
• Movement problems like stiffness or tremors
• Sleep problems, including acting out dreams
• Falls and fainting

Living with This Type

Daily life can be very unpredictable.

Your parent might seem fine in the morning and very confused by afternoon. They might see people or animals that are not there. These hallucinations feel real to them. Movement problems mean more risk of falls.

Good care needs flexibility and patience.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

Frontotemporal dementia is less common but starts younger.

Only about 2 in 100 people with dementia have FTD. It usually starts between ages 45 and 65. The front and sides of the brain shrink. This changes personality and behaviour before memory problems appear.

This type affects behaviour and language more than memory at first.

What You Will See

• Changes in personality and behaviour
• Loss of empathy and social awareness
• Saying inappropriate things
• Compulsive behaviours or routines
• Problems with speech or understanding words
• Overeating, especially sweet foods

The Family Impact

This type puts special stress on families.

Your parent is younger, possibly still working. They might not recognise their own behaviour has changed. The personality changes can be harder to cope with than memory problems. Family relationships often suffer.

You will need specialist support for this type.

Mixed Dementia

Mixed dementia means having two types at once.

About 1 in 10 people with dementia have this. The most common mix is Alzheimer's plus vascular dementia. The brain shows damage from both types. Doctors often only find this after death when they examine the brain.

Mixed dementia is probably more common than we know.

What You Will See

The symptoms mix features from both types.

Your parent might have memory problems like Alzheimer's and thinking problems like vascular dementia. They might get worse in steps and gradually at the same time. The symptoms can be confusing because they do not fit one pattern.

Treatment focuses on managing both types.

Why It Matters for Care

• Treatments for one type might help the other too
• Lifestyle changes for vascular health can slow both types
• Care needs to address both sets of symptoms
• Planning is harder because decline patterns vary

Getting a Diagnosis

Early diagnosis opens doors to better care.

Your GP will do tests and might refer your parent to a specialist. Memory clinics do detailed assessments. Brain scans help rule out other causes. Blood tests check for other health problems.

Diagnosis usually takes several appointments over a few months.

What to Ask the Doctor

• Which type of dementia does my parent have?
• What treatments are available?
• What can we expect over the next year?
• Where can we get support?
• What legal and financial planning should we do now?

Planning for Care

You need to think about care now and in the future.

Care costs money. Good care costs a lot. Your parent might need live-in care or a care home later. Start looking at options early. Check what benefits and support are available. Get legal paperwork done while your parent can still make decisions.

Planning ahead reduces stress when things get harder.

Key Steps to Take Now

• Register for Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment
• Set up Lasting Power of Attorney for health and finances
• Check if your parent qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare
• Research local care homes and home care services
• Talk to siblings about sharing care responsibilities
• Join a support group for carers

Looking After Yourself

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Caring for someone with dementia is hard work. You have your job, your own family, your life. You will feel guilty. You will feel tired. You will feel frustrated. These feelings are normal.

Make time for yourself or you will burn out.

Get Support

• Accept help from family and friends
• Use respite care so you can take breaks
• Talk to other carers who understand
• See your own GP if you feel low or anxious
• Keep doing things you enjoy