Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
Symptoms of childhood dementia may include confusion, loss of memory, or the inability to communicate. The symptoms are progressive, meaning they get worse over time. Symptoms may progress quickly or slowly depending on the cause.
This article will provide an overview of childhood dementia, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
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Dementia and Related Cognitive Disorders
An estimated 700,000 people in the United States live with childhood dementia.
Types of Childhood Dementia
Childhood dementia is usually related toneuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses(NCL), a group of rare, fatal genetic conditions.
The three types of NCL are:
Childhood Dementia Symptoms
Childhood dementia symptoms may include:
Depending on the underlying cause, children with childhood dementia may also experience the following:
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Childhood dementia occurs when nerve cells in the brain (neurons) lose connections to each other and start to die. A group of rare genetic conditions causes this brain damage.
How Genetic Disorders Are Inherited
The diseases that cause childhood dementia may be diagnosed at birth or later in childhood. If your medical team is concerned that your child is at risk for NCL, they may recommend the following diagnostic tests:
Imaging Tests of the Brain
Treatment options may include:
Children with childhood dementia likely require lifelong care. Therapies in their treatment plan may include:
Childhood dementia is a severe condition. It cannot be reversed, and most children require constant care and supervision. The genetic diseases that cause childhood dementia are fatal.
The younger the child is diagnosed, the worse the prognosis usually is. Children diagnosed with NCL in their first year of life are not expected to live beyond age 10.Talk with your healthcare provider about your child’s prognosis.
Parents and caregivers of children with childhood dementia need support in all areas of their lives. Asupport groupmay be helpful for learning about resources and connecting with others.
Organizations that offer support groups for caregivers of children with NCL include:
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Summary
To diagnose childhood dementia, your healthcare team will focus on diagnosing the underlying disease. Your child may require a brain imaging test to confirm the diagnosis.
There is no cure for childhood dementia. Treatment options may include medications, physical, occupational, speech, and mental health therapy, and nutrition services.
While childhood dementia may share many of the same symptoms as adult dementia, the two conditions are different. A rare genetic disease causes childhood dementia. Adult dementia has other possible causes.
Children with childhood dementia usually exhibit several signs and symptoms. Your child may start to lose skills that they had once mastered. Children with childhood dementia experience memory loss, confusion, and personality changes.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.Childhood Dementia Initiative.What is childhood dementia?Schulz A, Kohlschütter A.NCL disorders: frequent causes of childhood dementia.Iran J Child Neurol. 2013;7(1):1-8.MedlinePlus.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL).Child Neurology Foundation.Dementia.Additional ReadingAndrade F, Aldámiz-Echevarría L, Llarena M, et al.Sanfilippo syndrome: overall review.Pediatr Int. 2015;57(3):331-338. doi:10.1111/ped.12636Kuruppu DK, Matthews BR.Young-onset dementia.Semin Neurol. 2013;33(4):365-385. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1359320
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.Childhood Dementia Initiative.What is childhood dementia?Schulz A, Kohlschütter A.NCL disorders: frequent causes of childhood dementia.Iran J Child Neurol. 2013;7(1):1-8.MedlinePlus.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL).Child Neurology Foundation.Dementia.Additional ReadingAndrade F, Aldámiz-Echevarría L, Llarena M, et al.Sanfilippo syndrome: overall review.Pediatr Int. 2015;57(3):331-338. doi:10.1111/ped.12636Kuruppu DK, Matthews BR.Young-onset dementia.Semin Neurol. 2013;33(4):365-385. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1359320
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.Childhood Dementia Initiative.What is childhood dementia?Schulz A, Kohlschütter A.NCL disorders: frequent causes of childhood dementia.Iran J Child Neurol. 2013;7(1):1-8.MedlinePlus.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL).Child Neurology Foundation.Dementia.
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.
Childhood Dementia Initiative.What is childhood dementia?
Schulz A, Kohlschütter A.NCL disorders: frequent causes of childhood dementia.Iran J Child Neurol. 2013;7(1):1-8.
MedlinePlus.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL).
Child Neurology Foundation.Dementia.
Andrade F, Aldámiz-Echevarría L, Llarena M, et al.Sanfilippo syndrome: overall review.Pediatr Int. 2015;57(3):331-338. doi:10.1111/ped.12636Kuruppu DK, Matthews BR.Young-onset dementia.Semin Neurol. 2013;33(4):365-385. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1359320
Andrade F, Aldámiz-Echevarría L, Llarena M, et al.Sanfilippo syndrome: overall review.Pediatr Int. 2015;57(3):331-338. doi:10.1111/ped.12636
Kuruppu DK, Matthews BR.Young-onset dementia.Semin Neurol. 2013;33(4):365-385. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1359320
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