Dementia
Dementia is a term used to describe various different brain disorders that have in common a loss of brain function that is usually progressive and eventually severe. There are over 100 different types of dementia. The most common are vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Symptoms of dementia include loss of memory, confusion and problems with speech and understanding.
The Alzheimer's Society estimates that there are currently over 750,000 people in the UK with dementia.
Vascular disease
This is a common cause of memory loss or dementia in older people. It is due to furring up of the arteries supplying the brain leading to very small stokes that can cause progressive brain damage.
Alzheimer's disease
This one of the most common cause of dementia. During the course of the disease, the chemistry and structure of the brain changes, leading to the death of brain cells.
Dementia with Lewy bodies
This form of dementia gets its name from tiny spherical structures that develop inside nerve cells. Their presence in the brain leads to the degeneration of brain tissue. Memory, concentration and language skills are affected.
Mild cognitive impairment
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a relatively recent term, used to describe people who have some problems with their memory but do not actually have dementia.
Treatment is available at: