While Alzheimer's disease is the most widely known form of dementia, the other most common types are vascular dementia, mixed dementia (where two or more types of dementia occur together – >10% of cases), dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia.^1,8

Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. It is characterised by a build-up of abnormal amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. These plaques and tangles interfere with normal brain activity and brain scans can show shrinkage as well as reduced neurotransmission.^9,10,11

Unlike other dementia types which see protein buildup in the brain, vascular dementia arises from reduced blood flow in the brain. This can be due to strokes, transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), or vascular damage such as due to hypertension, raised cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes.^8,11

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and dementia that may develop with Parkinson’s disease (PD) both see an accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, in the brain.

Frontotemporal dementia arises with damage to the front and sides of the brain, areas responsible for personality, behaviour and language.^8,11,12

Common symptoms early on in dementias include:^1,2,3,5

·      memory loss;

·      confusion (eg with time or place);

·      problems with understanding, reasoning and judgement; 

·      problems with speech, language and communication; 

·      change in personality (eg mood changes), feelings and behaviour;

·      a reduced ability to carry out daily activities (eg shopping, washing, dressing and cooking);

·      impaired movement.