Types of dementia

Alzheimer’s disease

Most common

Chemistry and structure of brain changes, leading to death of brain cells

Vascular dementia

If oxygen supply to the brain fails, brain cells can die.

Symptoms can occur suddenly following a stroke, or over time through series of small strokes

Dementia with Lewy bodies

Tiny spherical structures developed inside nerve cells. Leads to degeneration of brain tissue.

Fronto-temporal dementia

Damage focused in front part of brain.

Personality and behaviour are initially affected more than memory.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)

Prions, infectious agents that attack the central nervous system and invade the brain, causing dementia.

Korsakoff’s syndrome

Associated with heavy drinking over a long period of time.

HIV related cognitive impairment

People with HIV and aids sometimes developed cognitive impairment, particularly in later stages of their illness.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Describes people who have problems with their cognition