Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of DementiaCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Dementia GuideRecognizing the Early Symptoms of Dementia
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs of Dementia
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Dementia Guide
Dementiais not one disease, but a term that refers to different disorders that affect the brain and impair a person’s memory, thinking, behavior, or emotions enough to interfere with daily life and independence.
Alzheimer’s diseaseis the most common type, accounting for 60% to 80% of all dementia cases.Other types of dementia includevascular,Lewy body,frontotemporal, and mixed dementia, which refers to dementia from more than one cause. Although dementia is more common with age, it is not considered a normal part of aging.
This article will examine the signs, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dementia.
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About one in nine people, or approximately 6.5 million Americans, ages 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia.
Because dementia refers to multiple conditions, symptoms can vary greatly between individuals. Symptoms can occur as nerve cells in the brain stop working properly and eventually die.Symptoms may also be due to a buildup of plaque in the brain.
Dementia occurs in stages, with symptoms typically progressing from mild, where the person can still function independently, to severe, where round-the-clock care is often needed.
Cognitive symptoms
Some common cognitive symptoms of dementia include problems with:
Psychological symptoms
Some of the psychological symptoms of dementia include:
In addition to cognitive and psychological symptoms, those with dementia can also experience physical symptoms such as loss of balance and coordination, or changes in visual perception.
Cognitive Decline Symptoms in Young and Older Adults
Amyloidplaques are known to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid plaques are made up of collections of beta-amyloid protein that form in the spaces between the brain’s nerve cells. This build-up of protein causes damage and makes it harder for cells to communicate with each other. However, scientists are still unsure exactly how amyloid plaque damages nerve cells.
Risk factors
A number of risk factors are associated with an increased chance of developing dementia.
Unmodifiable risk factors, or risk factors you can’t control, include:
Alzheimer’s and AgeIt’s estimated that 5% of American ages 65 to 74 have Alzheimer’s disease, compared to 13.1% of those ages 75 to 84, and 33.2% of those ages 85 or older.
Alzheimer’s and Age
It’s estimated that 5% of American ages 65 to 74 have Alzheimer’s disease, compared to 13.1% of those ages 75 to 84, and 33.2% of those ages 85 or older.
Modifiable risk factors, or those you can control, also play a role in the chances of developing dementia. They include:
Memory Disorders: The Diseases That Cause Forgetfulness
There is no one test todiagnose dementia. Healthcare providers typically will do a physical exam, take a medical assessment including family history, and run lab tests to first determine if another condition is causing symptoms.
Tests that can be used to diagnose dementia include:
How dementia istreateddepends on the type of dementia and if there is a known cause. In most cases, dementia cannot be cured. Medications can improve symptoms, mental function, and behavior, but do not slow dementia progression.
Aduhelm Discontinued
In June 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Aduhelm (aducanumab) for treating Alzheimer’s disease. It was the first drug approved for the disease since 2003 and targets amyloid-beta. However, studies showed little or no benefit in slowing cognitive decline.
7 Alternative Dementia Therapies to Help Relieve Symptoms
Because the causes of dementia aren’t fully understood, there is no guaranteed way to prevent it. However, managing modifiable risk factors can lower your risk of getting dementia.
Behaviors that can reduce the risk of developing dementia include:
Summary
Dementia is an umbrella term referring to a number of conditions that affect the brain and impair cognitive, psychological, and physical function. In most cases, the causes of dementia are not known, and a number of factors are believed to play a role.
The chance of being diagnosed with dementia increases greatly with age. Treatments can be used to help manage symptoms but do not slow dementia’s progression. Making healthy lifestyle modifications can help lower the risk of getting dementia.
Understanding Sundowner’s Syndrome and Dementia Symptoms
A Word From Verywell
Dementia can be a difficult diagnosis for both patients and their loved ones. If someone is displaying signs of dementia, it’s important to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible to make a diagnosis and rule out any other conditions that could be causing symptoms.
Medications and lifestyle changes can potentially improve symptoms but are most effective if initiated in dementia’s early stages. Because dementia is progressive, it’s also important to explore available resources early on. There are manyorganizations that offer supportto both patients with dementia and their caregivers throughout all stages of the condition.
Dementia is an umbrella term for certain conditions that affect the brain, and how a person thinks, remembers, and behaves. Alzheimer’s disease is one of several types of dementia. It is also the most common type of dementia.Learn MoreDifferences Between Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Dementia is an umbrella term for certain conditions that affect the brain, and how a person thinks, remembers, and behaves. Alzheimer’s disease is one of several types of dementia. It is also the most common type of dementia.
Learn MoreDifferences Between Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Learn MoreVarious Causes and Types of Dementia
People can live many years with dementia and remain physically healthy as their cognitive abilities decline.Although on average a person lives four to eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s possible to live up to 20 years or more with the disease.Learn More9 Care Options for People Living With Dementia
People can live many years with dementia and remain physically healthy as their cognitive abilities decline.Although on average a person lives four to eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s possible to live up to 20 years or more with the disease.
Learn More9 Care Options for People Living With Dementia
17 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.Alzheimer’s Association.What is dementia?Rajan KB, Weuve J, Barnes LL, McAninch EA, Wilson RS, Evans DA.Population estimate of people with clinical Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment in the United States (2020–2060).Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2021;17(12):1966-1975. doi:10.1002/alz.12362National Institute on Aging.What is dementia? Symptoms, types, and diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is dementia?Alzheimer’s Association.10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s.National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?Medical Life Sciences News.What are amyloid plaques?National Institute on Aging.What happens to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease?Alzheimer’s Disease International.Risk factors and risk reduction.American Heart Association.What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.Hebert LE, Weuve J, Scherr PA, Evans DA.Alzheimer disease in the United States (2010-2050) estimated using the 2010 census.Neurology. 2013;80(19):1778-1783. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31828726f5Stanford Health Care.Risk factors for dementia.Stanford Health Care.Treatment options for dementia.Heidebrink JL, Paulson HL.Lessons Learned from Approval of Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s Disease. Annu Rev Med. 2024 Jan 29;75:99-111. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-051022-043645Stanford Health Care.Can dementia be prevented?.National Institute on Aging.End-of-life care for people with dementia.Alzheimer’s Association.Stages of Alzheimer’s.
17 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.Alzheimer’s Association.What is dementia?Rajan KB, Weuve J, Barnes LL, McAninch EA, Wilson RS, Evans DA.Population estimate of people with clinical Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment in the United States (2020–2060).Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2021;17(12):1966-1975. doi:10.1002/alz.12362National Institute on Aging.What is dementia? Symptoms, types, and diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is dementia?Alzheimer’s Association.10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s.National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?Medical Life Sciences News.What are amyloid plaques?National Institute on Aging.What happens to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease?Alzheimer’s Disease International.Risk factors and risk reduction.American Heart Association.What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.Hebert LE, Weuve J, Scherr PA, Evans DA.Alzheimer disease in the United States (2010-2050) estimated using the 2010 census.Neurology. 2013;80(19):1778-1783. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31828726f5Stanford Health Care.Risk factors for dementia.Stanford Health Care.Treatment options for dementia.Heidebrink JL, Paulson HL.Lessons Learned from Approval of Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s Disease. Annu Rev Med. 2024 Jan 29;75:99-111. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-051022-043645Stanford Health Care.Can dementia be prevented?.National Institute on Aging.End-of-life care for people with dementia.Alzheimer’s Association.Stages of Alzheimer’s.
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.
Alzheimer’s Association.What is dementia?Rajan KB, Weuve J, Barnes LL, McAninch EA, Wilson RS, Evans DA.Population estimate of people with clinical Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment in the United States (2020–2060).Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2021;17(12):1966-1975. doi:10.1002/alz.12362National Institute on Aging.What is dementia? Symptoms, types, and diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is dementia?Alzheimer’s Association.10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s.National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?Medical Life Sciences News.What are amyloid plaques?National Institute on Aging.What happens to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease?Alzheimer’s Disease International.Risk factors and risk reduction.American Heart Association.What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.Hebert LE, Weuve J, Scherr PA, Evans DA.Alzheimer disease in the United States (2010-2050) estimated using the 2010 census.Neurology. 2013;80(19):1778-1783. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31828726f5Stanford Health Care.Risk factors for dementia.Stanford Health Care.Treatment options for dementia.Heidebrink JL, Paulson HL.Lessons Learned from Approval of Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s Disease. Annu Rev Med. 2024 Jan 29;75:99-111. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-051022-043645Stanford Health Care.Can dementia be prevented?.National Institute on Aging.End-of-life care for people with dementia.Alzheimer’s Association.Stages of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Association.What is dementia?
Rajan KB, Weuve J, Barnes LL, McAninch EA, Wilson RS, Evans DA.Population estimate of people with clinical Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment in the United States (2020–2060).Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2021;17(12):1966-1975. doi:10.1002/alz.12362
National Institute on Aging.What is dementia? Symptoms, types, and diagnosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is dementia?
Alzheimer’s Association.10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
Medical Life Sciences News.What are amyloid plaques?
National Institute on Aging.What happens to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s Disease International.Risk factors and risk reduction.
American Heart Association.What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.
Hebert LE, Weuve J, Scherr PA, Evans DA.Alzheimer disease in the United States (2010-2050) estimated using the 2010 census.Neurology. 2013;80(19):1778-1783. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31828726f5
Stanford Health Care.Risk factors for dementia.
Stanford Health Care.Treatment options for dementia.
Heidebrink JL, Paulson HL.Lessons Learned from Approval of Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s Disease. Annu Rev Med. 2024 Jan 29;75:99-111. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-051022-043645
Stanford Health Care.Can dementia be prevented?.
National Institute on Aging.End-of-life care for people with dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association.Stages of Alzheimer’s.
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