4 Different Types of Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of symptoms caused by different diseases that damage the brain. These diseases affect brain cells in specific areas, leading to changes in memory, thinking skills, language, and behaviour. The way dementia develops depends on the type of dementia and the underlying causes.

While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, other common types include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia. Some people experience more than one type, known as mixed dementia, while others develop young onset dementia (also called early onset dementia) before the age of 65.

Understanding these different types of dementia can help families, carers, and professionals provide the right support, treatment, and dementia care. If you’re supporting a loved one living with dementia, you can explore specialist dementia care at home from Careline Home Support for professional assistance

What Is Dementia?

Dementia isn’t a single specific disease. Instead, it describes a set of symptoms caused when different diseases affect how the brain works. The most common dementia symptoms include memory loss, confusion, difficulty with problem-solving, and changes in behaviour or personality. These occur when brain cells are damaged and can no longer communicate effectively.

The most common types of dementia share many symptoms, but each affects specific areas of the brain differently. The four main types of dementia are:

1. Alzheimer’s disease
2. Vascular dementia
3. Dementia with Lewy bodies
4. Frontotemporal dementia

Let’s look at each form of dementia and how it develops.

1. Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, responsible for most dementia cases in the UK. It develops when abnormal proteins, including amyloid plaques and sometimes neurofibrillary tangles, build up inside the brain, causing brain cells to die. As more cells are affected, symptoms gradually worsen.

Common early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease often include:

• Short-term memory loss
• Confusion about time or place
• Trouble finding the right words
• Difficulty with planning and decision-making
• Changes in mood or behaviour

As the disease progresses, the person may struggle to recognise loved ones, carry out daily tasks, or communicate clearly. Although there is no cure, treatment can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. This includes medication, cognitive therapy, and practical care support such as Careline Home Support dementia services.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms get worse over time. It remains the most common type of dementia worldwide and is often referred to as dementia Alzheimer’s disease when describing dementia caused by Alzheimer’s itself.

2. Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia and is caused by problems with blood flow to the brain. When blood vessels become damaged or blocked, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. This can happen after a stroke or through small vessel disease.

People with vascular dementia often experience:

• Difficulty concentrating or planning
• Slower thinking
• Short periods of sudden onset confusion
• Changes in mood or personality

Unlike Alzheimer’s, memory problems may not appear first. Because it is linked to cardiovascular health, controlling underlying causes such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or too much alcohol can help slow progression.

When vascular dementia occurs alongside Alzheimer’s disease, it is known as mixed dementia — a common form of dementia among older adults.

There is no cure, but treatment focuses on preventing further damage and managing risk factors. With early diagnosis, lifestyle changes and medical support can help a person live well with dementia.

3. Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies, also called Lewy body dementia, is caused by abnormal clumps of protein called Lewy bodies that develop in nerve cells in the brain. These Lewy bodies interfere with how the brain sends signals, leading to problems with movement, thinking, and alertness.

Because the same protein is involved in Parkinson’s disease dementia, there is often overlap between the two dementia types.

People with dementia with Lewy bodies may experience:

• Fluctuating alertness and concentration
• Visual hallucinations
• Sleep disturbances
• Muscle stiffness or tremors similar to Parkinson’s disease
• Difficulty judging distances or recognising objects

People with Lewy body dementia may appear well one day and confused the next. The condition often causes behaviour and movement changes before memory loss develops.

Accurate diagnosis is important because some medications for other diseases can make Lewy body dementia worse. Although there is no cure, treatment focuses on managing movement issues, sleep problems, and mental health. Support from family and carers plays a vital role in living with dementia safely and comfortably.

4. Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control personality, language, and social skills. Damage in these specific areas causes significant changes in behaviour and communication.

It’s sometimes known as Pick’s disease and is considered a rarer type of dementia, though it’s one of the more common types in younger people under 65. That’s why it’s closely linked to young onset dementia or younger onset dementia.

Typical symptoms include:

• Personality or behaviour changes such as impulsivity or lack of empathy
• Repetitive actions or obsessive interests
• Changes in eating habits
• Difficulty speaking or understanding language

Unlike other types of dementia, memory loss may not appear early. Instead, the main signs are behavioural and social. Because people may still be working or caring for children, this form of dementia can have a big emotional and financial impact.

There is currently no cure for frontotemporal dementia, but treatment such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and consistent support from dementia specialists can help manage day-to-day life. Careline Home Support provides tailored care plans to help people with FTD stay comfortable and independent at home.

Other and Mixed Types of Dementia

While these four are the most common types, there are also rarer types and rarer causes such as:

• Posterior cortical atrophy, affecting visual processing
• Alcoholic dementia or Korsakoff’s syndrome, caused by too much alcohol or Wernicke’s encephalopathy
• Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia, both leading to brain damage and cognitive decline

Some people develop more than one type — known as mixed dementia. The most common form is a combination of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, but other combinations, such as Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia, can occur.

Early Onset and Young Onset Dementia

When dementia is diagnosed before the age of 65, it is called young onset dementia or early onset dementia. This rarer form of dementia affects younger people, often in their 40s, 50s or early 60s. It can be caused by any specific disease that damages the brain, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, or vascular dementia.

Because it affects people of younger age, symptoms may differ — for example, behaviour or language changes are more common than memory loss in the early stages. Getting a timely diagnosis is essential so that treatment and workplace or financial support can be arranged.

Living With Dementia

Each type of dementia affects people differently, but with the right support, many people can continue to live fulfilling lives. Early diagnosis, tailored treatment, and consistent care from professionals make a huge difference.

At Careline Home Support, our carers are experienced in helping people with all types of dementia, from Alzheimer’s disease to Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia. Our dementia care services focus on comfort, independence, and dignity at home, ensuring every person receives compassionate, individual support.

Summary: Understanding the Different Types of Dementia

• Alzheimer’s disease – the most common type of dementia, caused by amyloid plaques and brain cell death
• Vascular dementia – the second most common type, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain
• Dementia with Lewy bodies – caused by protein deposits called Lewy bodies, leading to movement and behaviour changes
• Frontotemporal dementia – affects the frontal and temporal lobes, causing changes in personality and language

Each type of dementia progresses differently and may need a different approach to treatment and care. By understanding these distinctions, families and carers can offer the best possible support — and with help from experienced care providers like Careline Home Support, people can continue living with dementia in the comfort of their own homes.