Dementia refers to a group of symptoms that affect the intellectual and social functions of the brain. The impairments of dementia are severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Although memory loss usually occurs in dementia, that symptom alone is not enough to cause dementia. Dementia, which may be caused by a variety of diseases, also has symptoms such as difficulty communicating, difficulty planning, changes in personality, inappropriate behavior, agitation, hallucinations and trouble with motor function.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disease that affects approximately 5.3 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's disease destroys brain cells, which results in memory loss, cognitive impairment and behavior changes. This is the most common form of dementia, as reported by the Alzheimer's Association, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of all cases of dementia.
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that affects about 1.5 million people in the United States, according to HelpGuide.org. Although dementia is not one of the primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease, about 20 percent of those who have Parkinson's disease will develop Parkinson's Disease dementia (PDD), as reported by HelpGuide.org. This type of dementia typically affects attention span and ability to stay alert and causes visual hallucinations.
Pick's Disease
Pick's disease, also called frontotemporal dementia, is characterized by the shrinking of the frontal and temporal anterior lobes of the brain. This results in dementia, which can lead to changes in behavior and difficulty with language. Patients with Pick's disease often exhibit impulsive and inappropriate social behavior, neglect personal hygiene, become agitated easily and show repetitive and compulsive behavior. There is no specific treatment or cure for Pick's disease, which does run in families, resulting in a poor prognosis, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease is a common genetic disorder (meaning it is passed on from parent to child) that affects more than 250,000 Americans, as reported by the Huntington's Disease Society of America. Huntington's disease is a degenerative brain disorder that affects cognitive (thinking) functions, motor skills and behavior. This type of dementia has short-term memory loss, irritability, depression, aggressive outbursts, mood swings, difficulty concentrating and the inability to cope with daily activities. There is no cure for Huntington's disease, and those affected will eventually require full-time care.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare degenerative brain disease, with only about 200 new cases reported in the United States each year, according to the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke. CJD is characterized by progressive dementia that rapidly deteriorates with 90 percent of cases resulting in death within 1 year of the onset of symptoms, as reported by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke. CJD causes behavior changes, impaired memory, impaired judgment, difficulty thinking and impaired vision and can lead to blindness, involuntary motor movements and coma.
References
- Alzheimer's Association: What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- HelpGuide.org: Parkinson's Disease and Parkinson's Dementia
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Frontotemporal Dementia Information Page
- Huntington's Disease Society of America: What is Huntington's disease?
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
