Dementia isn’t a single disease. It’s a way to describe a group of symptoms that affect the brain.
These symptoms make it hard for people to remember things, think clearly, behave normally, and control their emotions. They can also interfere with day-to-day tasks.
The Usual Suspects: Main Causes of Dementia
There are many conditions and diseases that can cause dementia. Here are the main ones:
Alzheimer’s Disease
This is the most common cause of dementia. As many as 7 out of 10 people with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s a disease of the brain that gets worse over time, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Doctors think it may be due to strange proteins building up in the brain.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia. It accounts for 2 out of 10 cases of dementia.
It happens when the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain get damaged. This reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia is the third most common cause of dementia, responsible for about 15% of cases. It causes problems with memory, thinking, and movement.
It’s caused by abnormal proteins, called Lewy bodies, that interfere with how the brain works.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and side parts of the brain, which can change a person’s behavior, personality, and language.
It’s less common than Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia, causing about 5% of dementia cases.
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects movement. Some people with Parkinson’s disease may also develop dementia, usually several years after their movement problems start.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is a brain disorder that is passed down in families. It affects how people move, think, and behave. People with Huntington’s disease can also develop dementia, usually in the later stages of the disease.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare, serious brain disorder that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It’s caused by abnormal proteins, called prions, that build up in the brain.
Brain Injuries
Injuries to the brain, like a hard hit on the head or a fall, can cause long-term changes in thinking and behavior, including dementia.
Heavy Drinking
Drinking a lot of alcohol over a long period of time can damage the brain and lead to dementia. This type of dementia is sometimes called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Not Getting Enough Nutrients
People who don’t get enough vitamins, especially vitamin B1 and B12, can develop dementia. This can happen to people who don’t eat enough healthy food, drink too much alcohol, or have certain medical conditions.
In the end, dementia is caused by many different diseases and conditions that affect the brain. By understanding these causes, we can do a better job of preventing and treating dementia.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Vitamin B supplements could help reduce dementia risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that high-fiber diet could help lower the dementia risk, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
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