Dementia is not one particular illness, rather it is a set of symptoms that are brought on by a particular cause. Below are the top three most common causes of dementia:
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)- It is a common misconception that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same thing, however it is in fact Alzheimer’s disease that causes dementia. AD is the most common cause of dementia, and occurs when an abnormal protein surrounds brain cells and causes damage to their inner structure.
Vascular dementia- This occurs when oxygen supply to some parts of the brain is reduced, due to narrowing or blocking of blood vessels, and this causes some brain cells to become damaged or even to die. This can occur after one severe stroke, or several smaller strokes.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies- Lewy bodies are abnormal structures that develop inside brain cells and lead to their death. This type of dementia has many similar symptoms to Parkinson’s Disease such as affected mobility.
For more information or if you wish to discuss care for your loved one please email care@greensleeves.org.uk