Common Types of Dementia and How the Dementia Care Professionals at Visiting Angels in Anderson, IN Can Help

As the years go by, and people begin to age, it is common that they begin to experience minor memory changes. If it is difficult to recall recent events, or you find yourself or a loved one misplacing everyday items, or temporarily forgetting names do not worry, these can all be part of the normal aging process and don’t require dementia care assistance.

However, if you or a loved one is experiencing more seriously impaired thinking, memory, and problem-solving that may also be affecting daily living is not normal in the aging process. These would be major signs of dementia. If you or a loved one are experiencing any symptoms of dementia, feel free to reach us to discuss our dementia care program.

Symptoms of Dementia in Seniors

Dementia can look different in each senior, a few examples are:

• Communication challenges
• Reasoning difficulties
• Problem-solving issues
• Motor function limitations
• Disorientation
• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Personality changes (i.e., dementia and anger)

Types of Dementia

Dementia is not a single disease; it is a condition that be caused by a variety of different disease. Dementia care can vary based on the disease that the dementia stems from. You can read about the most common types of dementia here to see if you may need to invest in dementia care:

• Alzheimer’s Disease

This disease is responsible for the majority of dementia cases, roughly about 60-80% of dementia cases start with Alzheimer’s. As time goes on Alzheimer’s gets worse, and tends to lead to memory loss, language issues, and erratic or unpredictable behavior. People who are struggling with this disease also experience mood changes, and can become afraid and confused, resulting in angry or violent episodes; it is common for these episodes to rapidly switch between these extremes. The root cause of this disease is not completely clear to scientists, however, there have been studies that show how this gene can be linked from parent to child. Learn how a Visiting Angels’ caregiver can provide Alzheimer’s care for your loved one.

• Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is a result of blood vessels supplying damaged oxygen supplies to the brain. This damage can be gradual over time as the result of numerous narrowed blood vessels or small blockages or bleeds in the brain, it can also have a sudden on-set after experiencing vascular brain injuries such as a stroke.

Vascular dementia differs from Alzheimer’s because the memory loss is not usually a pronounced symptom. Rather, the most common symptoms of Vascular dementia include sluggish thinking, trouble solving problems or making decisions, unsteady gait, and difficulty concentrating or focusing.

• Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy body dementia is like Alzheimer’s in the fact that is also a common cause of progressive dementia. Lewy Body dementia typically shows up more often in men than women, it can have a sudden on-set, and will progress very quickly. The most common signs of Lewy Body dementia include impaired thinking and memory, difficulty remaining alert or maintaining attention, stiffness and slowness of movement, visual hallucinations, and changes to sleep and behavior. This disease can also cause bodily systems to become irregular, which has the ability to lead to circulatory or digestive problems such as changes to blood pressure, dizziness, and constipation.

• Mixed Dementia

Typically, people with Mixed Dementia have two or more underlying diseases that contribute to their symptoms, such as having vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Dementia Care for Seniors in Anderson, Greenfield, and Nearby Cities

Dementia can be caused by multiple diseases, but there are reversal conditions that can copy dementia symptoms—especially if a senior has risk factors for dementia. Risk factors include:

• Family history
• Poor diet
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking or alcohol use
• Cardiovascular disease
• Sleep apnea
  

If you're interested in more information about how in home dementia care can help your senior loved one, call Visiting Angels East Central Indiana at 765-703-4194.