When many people hear the word “dementia,” they probably think of memory loss or forgetfulness. However, many people may not know that dementia can cause a variety of symptoms that affect language, behavior, sleep, motor function, and more.
In fact, dementia is an umbrella term. It is estimated that there are over 100 types of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common subtype of dementia, affecting approximately 60% of all cases. Memory loss is one of the most common symptoms of this type of dementia.
However, about 40% of all dementia cases are thought to be of a different type that is rarer. Unfortunately, rarer types of dementia are often more difficult to diagnose and require more complex care.
While most people may be aware of several types of dementia, such as Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, awareness about other, rarer types is lower.
Knowing how to spot the signs of these rare types of dementia early is critical to ensuring your loved one gets the support they need.
Posterior cortical atrophy
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) primarily affects visual and spatial functions. Memory is not as adversely affected in the early stages as in Alzheimer’s disease.
People with PCA may have trouble with visual hallucinations and spatial navigation. This can be noticeable when reading or judging the depth or space of a staircase, making it difficult to determine where the next step is, for example. Symptoms usually begin to appear between the ages of 55 and 65.
Because PCA is so rare, there is still much we don’t know about PCA. Researchers are still trying to figure out whether PCA is a distinct subtype of dementia or an atypical form of Alzheimer’s disease. This is because the brain changes that occur in PCA patients are very similar to those that occur in Alzheimer’s disease patients, although the symptoms are different. It is also estimated that 5% to 15% of Alzheimer’s patients have PCA.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is one of the rarest forms of dementia, affecting approximately 1 in 1 million people worldwide.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a type of prion disease. These diseases involve prion proteins that suddenly change into three-dimensional shapes for unknown reasons. The function of healthy prions is still unknown, but they appear to play a role in protecting nerves and brain cells and maintaining the functioning of the body’s circadian rhythm (the natural 24-hour cycle that our bodies follow that controls everything from sleep to digestion to immunity).
The misfolded prion protein in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease causes a very rapid and severe form of dementia, which progresses much faster than, for example, Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy body dementia. In addition to the disease progressing very quickly, people with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease have difficulty with memory and movement, including sudden, jerky movements.
Risk factors for this subtype of dementia include older age and genetics (occurs in 10-15% of cases). In very rare cases, it can also occur as a result of contamination, such as by eating beef from cows infected with mad cow disease.
FTD-MND
FTD-MND is a type of frontotemporal dementia that occurs with motor neuron disease.
Frontotemporal dementia refers to a subtype of the disease that causes gradual loss of brain tissue in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Motor neuron disease, on the other hand, is a rapidly progressive neurological disease that can cause difficulty breathing, difficulty moving, and paralysis. Although it affects the brain and nerves, it is not itself a type of dementia.
Approximately 10-15% of patients with frontotemporal dementia also develop motor neuron disease. This co-occurrence appears to be related to mutations in the C9orf72 gene. Because of this genetic link, FTD-MND can run in families.
People with FTD-MND experience several muscle-related problems, including muscle wasting, stiffness, and swallowing problems. These are not usually associated with dementia or memory loss.
It is currently unclear whether frontotemporal dementia develops first and then motor neuron disease, or vice versa.
progressive supranuclear palsy
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological disease that causes both dementia and movement disorders.
It is estimated that around 4,000 people are affected in the UK. PSP is difficult to diagnose because it overlaps with many other diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.
PSP primarily damages subcortical brain regions, particularly the brainstem and basal ganglia. These areas are related to vision and movement.
As a result, people with PSP have trouble using their eyes, which may cause them to fall frequently and have difficulty moving around. People with PSP may also have trouble concentrating and problem-solving.
dementia support
As with all dementia subtypes, there is no cure yet. There are drugs that can slow symptoms, but these are only effective in cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
Therefore, we need to find ways to support patients with other subtypes of dementia in the best possible way.
One way to do this is to properly understand the patient’s condition and subtype. It is important to understand that there may be particular problems with walking and movement rather than memory, and to take appropriate care in advance.
It is equally important to be able to spot the signs early. Dementia doesn’t just affect memory. Changes in behavior, loss of vision or more frequent falls, a change in the way a person walks, or difficulty speaking can all be early signs of dementia.
It is hoped that a better understanding of the different forms of dementia will lead to better ways to manage and treat this complex disease.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
