Learn more about the various types of dementia and the key differences between them.
Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to a number of different conditions, all of which can impair cognitive function. The causes, symptoms and outlook for those with dementia will depend largely on the individual, but could also be impacted by the specific type of dementia they have.
To help you understand more about this condition, we are breaking down the different types of dementia there are, what sets them apart from each other, more rare kinds you may come across, how diagnosis works, and more.
At Home Instead, our aim is to help people age positively and in place by bringing expert care to their home. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing the highest standard of care, and creating industry-leading training programmes for our Care Professionals that are accredited by nursing and medical professionals. Today, we are the world’s largest global home care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about dementia care, we can help.
Dementia refers to a range of medical conditions with symptoms involving impaired cognitive function. Dementia conditions are caused by a disruption or damage to neurons in the brain and their connections, meaning messages cannot be sent efficiently around the brain.
Symptoms can include things like memory loss, impaired communication, affected decision making, mood and personality changes, and more. You will find more in-depth information about dementia and its symptoms in our dedicated article: What Is Dementia?
There are many types of dementia, however only a few are particularly common in the UK. Here are the types of dementia you are most likely to come across:
How common is it?
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, affecting around 6 in 10 people with dementia in the UK.
What causes it?
The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is mostly unknown, but it is thought that one reason is a build-up of two substances in the brain called amyloid and tau, which can form plaques and tangles. This can make cognitive function harder, and in the long-term it can reduce the chemicals necessary for sending messages around the brain, and cause certain parts of the brain to become smaller.
What are the symptoms?
People with Alzheimer’s tend to experience memory problems, difficulties with reasoning, communication problems, changes to the way they see and hear things, and changes in their mood.
You can read more about this condition in our dedicated article: What Is Alzheimer’s?
How common is it?
This is the second most common type of dementia, which affects around 150,000 people in the UK.
What causes it?
Conditions interrupting the flow of blood vessels and oxygen within the brain. Symptoms can be impacted by the size, location, and number of vascular changes in the brain, and these can develop either gradually or suddenly.
What are the symptoms?
Like other types of dementia, vascular dementia can cause changes to memory, cognition, and behaviour. People with vascular dementia will continue to decline over time, although they may see short periods of improvement.
3. Lewy body dementia (LBD)
How common is it?
The third most common type affects around 10-15% of those with dementia, which means around 100,000 people in the UK, but it is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s in the early stages. There are two subtypes; dementia with Lewy bodies, and Parkinson’s. It is important to note those with Parkinson’s have a higher risk of dementia, but this does not mean they will definitely develop it.
What causes it?
It is unclear what causes Lewy body dementia, but it is thought to possibly be caused by abnormal clumps of protein gathering inside cells in the brain.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms that set Lewy body dementia apart from other types of dementia include hallucinations and fluctuations in alertness. Those with Parkinson’s may also have difficulty with movement. Sleep disturbances are a key feature of Lewy body dementia, affecting up to 90% of those with the condition (as a comparison, sleep disturbances only affect around 40% of Alzheimer’s patients).
4. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
How common is it?
Frontotemporal dementia is a less common type of dementia, but still accounts for around 1 in 30 cases of dementia in the UK, which is estimated to be around 31,000 people. This type of dementia is most common in people aged between 40 and 60.
What causes it?
This is another umbrella term which refers to a number of dementia conditions impacting the frontal and temporal lobes in the brain. It is thought to occur due to a buildup of proteins that can be genetic for some people with the condition.
What are the symptoms?
The frontal and temporal lobes are the areas in charge of our personality, behaviour, language and speech, so frontotemporal dementia mainly causes symptoms involving these functions. Memory loss issues that are more common in other types of dementia are not the norm for the early stages of frontotemporal dementia.
How common is it?
This type of dementia means a person is diagnosed with more than one type of dementia, and this is the case for at least 1 in every 10 people with dementia. More than one dementia diagnosis is most common in those aged over 75, and the most common combination is Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
What causes it?
Mixed dementia means more than one type of dementia, so the causes may also be mixed.
What are the symptoms?
As the name suggests, mixed dementia means a person with more than one type of dementia would experience symptoms from more than one condition.
How common is it?
Despite the stereotype of dementia only affecting older adults, younger people can in fact develop dementia too. In fact, around 70,800 people with dementia in the UK are thought to be under 65.
What causes it?
There is no clear reason why some people develop young-onset dementia, although it is thought that certain types of dementia in young people may be inherited.
What are the symptoms?
Dementia in younger people tends to manifest differently, for example, they are more likely to develop a rare form of dementia, less likely to experience memory loss early on, and more likely to experience issues with movement, walking, coordination or balance.
It can be difficult to know what differentiates the types of dementia when most forms can lead to similar symptoms of memory loss and communication issues. Ultimately when being diagnosed, doctors will look at what is going on inside the brain, what symptoms the person is experiencing, the person’s age and other risk factors to determine which type of dementia is present.
As well as the more common types of dementia mentioned above, in the UK around 1 in 20 people with dementia have a more rare version. These include:
There is no cure for dementia, so getting an accurate diagnosis as early as possible can help to ensure you receive the appropriate care before requiring more help. Your GP will often be the first person to discuss a possible dementia diagnosis with, however they may refer you to a neurologist specialising in the brain and nervous system, or a geriatric psychiatrist.
Some of the steps involved in reaching a diagnosis include:
While a dementia diagnosis can be a worrying and uncertain time, you should never put off receiving a diagnosis, as performing these tests and examinations as early as possible means doctors can identify signs and symptoms of dementia conditions and start available treatments to help you or your loved one manage the condition and plan ahead for the future.
You may also find our article on Managing The Stages Of Dementia useful.
Home Instead is an award-winning home care provider and part of a worldwide organisation devoted to providing the highest-quality relationship-led care for older people in their own homes. Arranging care for yourself or your loved one shouldn’t be stressful, so whatever questions you would like answered, feel free to reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss your needs.