Dementia corresponds to a progressive alteration of areas of the brain, resulting in alterations of memory, behavior, language and personality, directly interfering in the person's quality of life.
Dementia can be interpreted as a set of signs and symptoms related to brain changes that can have different causes, and is more often associated with aging.
According to the cause and symptoms presented by the person, dementia can be classified into several types, the main ones being:
1. Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's is the main type of dementia and is characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons and impairment of cognitive functions. The development of Alzheimer's is a consequence of a number of factors, such as genetics, aging, sedentarism, head trauma and smoking, for example.
Main symptoms: Alzheimer's symptoms develop in stages, with early symptoms related to difficulty finding words and making decisions, lack of attention and memory impairment, concentration, attention and reasoning. Here's how to identify the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is made through the evaluation of the symptoms presented by the patient and clinical and family history. In addition, the neurologist can request tests that allow the identification of brain changes, as well as analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid to check the accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins that occurs in Alzheimer's.
It is also recommended to perform reasoning tests, which must be done by the neurologist or geriatrician, in order to verify the cerebral commitment. See how the Alzheimer's rapid test is done.
2. Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, second only to Alzheimer's, and occurs when the blood supply to the brain is impaired due to cerebrovascular or cardiovascular problems, resulting in brain changes and, consequently, dementia. The main cause of dementia is stroke. See what causes stroke and how to avoid it.
Main symptoms: In this type of dementia there is great cognitive impairment, being very difficult for the person to perform simple activities of the day to day, resulting in dependence. In addition, with the progression of the disease, the person can become malnourished, have greater susceptibility to infections and have difficulty swallowing, for example.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of vascular dementia is made by means of neurological imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, in which brain changes due to decreased blood supply to the brain are observed.
3. Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease is also considered a type of dementia because there are changes related to the person's cognition and behavior. It is more common to occur in people from 50 years and its cause is still not very well established, however it is known that there is wear of regions of the brain responsible for the production of neurotransmitters. Learn how to identify Parkinson's disease.
Major symptoms: In addition to the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson's, such as tremors and muscle stiffness, progressive loss of memory and alteration of reflexes occurs due to the wear and tear of regions of the brain responsible for the production of neurotransmitters. See what are the first symptoms of Parkinson's.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is made by the neurologist through signs and symptoms presented by the patient and by imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of the skull. In addition, blood tests may be ordered that may exclude other diagnostic hypotheses.
4. Senile Dementia
Senile dementia occurs most frequently in people 65 and older and is characterized by progressive and irreversible intellectual functions, such as memory, reasoning and language, and is therefore a major cause of disability in the elderly. This type of dementia is usually the consequence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, for example. In addition, it may be the result of frequent use of some medications, such as sleeping pills, anti-depressants and muscle relaxants, for example. Learn more about senile dementia.
Main symptoms: The main symptoms related to senile dementia are disorientation, memory loss, difficulty making decisions, forgetting simple things, weight loss, urinary incontinence, difficulty driving or doing activities alone such as buying, cooking or bathing, for example.
How the diagnosis is made: Diagnosis of this type of dementia is done through laboratory tests to exclude other diseases, and imaging tests such as computed tomography of the skull and MRI, for example, to evaluate brain function. In addition, diagnosis should be made based on the patient's complete medical history and tests to assess memory and mental status, as well as the degree of attention, concentration, and communication.
5. Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia or DFT is a type of dementia characterized by atrophy and loss of nerve cells from one or both of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Frontal lobes are responsible for regulating mood and behavior, while temporal lobes are related to vision and speech. Thus, depending on where there is brain degeneration, symptoms may vary.
Main symptoms: The main symptoms related to FTD are changes in social behavior, personality variation, language alterations, presenting a limited speech. In addition, the person can repeat sentences spoken by other people several times and can not remember names of objects, only being able to describe them.
How is the diagnosis made? The DFT is diagnosed through psychiatric evaluation, in which the behavioral and social perception related changes are verified. In addition, some tests, such as brain imaging and electroencephalogram, may be requested. Learn how the electroencephalogram is done.
6. Pick's Dementia
Dementia or Pick's disease, also known as PiD, is a type of frontotemporal dementia characterized by excess Tau proteins in neurons called Pick cups. Excessive protein usually occurs in the frontal or temporal lobes and is one of the main causes of early memory loss, which can begin at age 40
Main symptoms: Pick's main symptoms are decreased thinking, difficulty speaking, mental confusion, emotional instability and personality changes.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of Pick's disease is made through the analysis of the behavioral symptoms presented by the person, which is usually done through psychological tests, as well as imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, the physician may be asked to assess the concentration of Tau protein in nervous system fluids, and cerebrospinal fluid collection is indicated.
7. Dementia with Lewy bodies
Dementia with Lewy bodies corresponds to the involvement of specific regions of the brain due to the presence of protein structures, known as Lewy bodies, that develop within the brain cells and cause their degeneration and death, resulting in dementia. This type of dementia is more common in people over 60 and can happen simultaneously with Alzheimer's disease, for example. Learn how to identify and treat dementia with Lewy bodies.
Main symptoms: People diagnosed with this type of dementia present as main symptoms loss of mental abilities, mental confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, tremors and muscular rigidity. Usually mental changes appear first, and as there is greater brain involvement, movement changes occur and mental confusion becomes more severe.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies should be made by a neurologist through the evaluation of symptoms, clinical history of the patient and the family, and imaging tests such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to identify degeneration in some parts of the brain.
8. Alcohol Dementia
The association between excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and a greater predisposition to early dementia is still under study, however it is already proven that excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages interferes in memory, cognitive and behavioral capacity. This is because alcohol can have a harmful effect on nerve cells, altering their functioning and resulting in the symptoms of dementia, for example.
In addition, if excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a diet low in vitamin B1, there may be irreversible brain damage. See what foods are rich in vitamin B1.
Main symptoms: Difficulty in learning, personality changes, decreased social skills, difficulty in logical thinking and short-term memory impairment are characteristic symptoms of alcohol-induced dementia.
