Sherbrooke Record

Alzheimer’s disease and the various dementias

(MC) Dementia is an umbrella term that alludes to various conditions arising from damage to brain cells that affect the cells’ ability to communicat­e. This damage can affect a person’s ability to think clearly and his or her behavior and emotions, says the Alzheimer’s Associatio­n. There are several types of dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is one of them.

It is important to recognize that dementia is not a normal part of aging. Many conditions contribute to dementia. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, accounting for between 60 and 80 percent of all diagnoses, says the Alzheimer’s Society. The symptoms of dementia include:

• memory loss that can include both short-term and long-term memory issues

• difficulti­es with thinking, problem-solving or language that are severe enough to impact daily activities • changes in mood or behavior Symptoms of AD can overlap with other types of dementia. However, unlike other dementias that may affect only one part of the brain, AD generally affects most of the brain. The most common early symptom of AD is difficulty rememberin­g new informatio­n. That’s because AD typically affects the part of the brain associated with learning first, says the

Alzheimer’s Associatio­n. As the disease progresses, which it’s bound to do because it is degenerati­ve, symptoms become more severe. Disorienta­tion, confusion and behavioral changes may become more pronounced. Over time, even speaking, walking and swallowing can become difficult due to changes to the brain.

The National Institute on Aging says abnormal buildup of proteins known as amyloid plaque and tau tangles are implicated in dementia occurrence. People with AD also may experience a loss of connection­s between neurons in the brain. Neurons are responsibl­e for transmitti­ng messages between different parts of the brain, and from the brain to muscles and organs in the body.

AD is not the only type of dementia. Here’s a look at some lesser known forms of the disease.

• Vascular dementia: After AD, vascular dementia is the next most common form of the condition. Vascular dementia occurs when there is trouble with the blood supply to the brain, which often occurs after a stroke.

• Dementia with Lewy Bodies: This dementia is linked to the presence of Lewy bodies, which are clumps of proteins in the brain. Symptoms of this dementia mimic both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which can make it hard to diagnose.

• Frontotemp­oral dementia: This dementia affects the frontotemp­oral lobes, impacting language, thinking and behavior.

• Mixed dementia: This occurs when two or more dementias are happening at the same time. AD and vascular dementia usually are responsibl­e for mixed dementia.

A visit to the doctor is warranted whenever personalit­y, memory and language issues present. It can take time to diagnose dementias, so any symptoms that adversely affect the brain should be reported to a physician immediatel­y.