Understanding Dementia
According to Neurology Health Care, dementia occurs in the cerebral cortex of the brain. This is the area responsible for personality, memories, thoughts and actions. As degeneration takes place in this area, the brain cells die, resulting in cognitive problems which define dementia. Some causes, such as brain tumors or infections, may be treatable. However for the majority of those with dementia, it is progressive and degenerative, unable to be reversed.
Alzheimer's Disease
The most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer's disease is responsible for half to three-quarters of all dementia cases. This is caused by tangles and plaques which are masses of protein fibers that become twisted around and inside the nerve cells of the cerebral cortex. These twists of protein fibers damage the nerve cells, resulting in the patient's ability to receive the proper messages from the brain neurons. Eventually, as they continue to wrap themselves around the cells, the cells die and the patient's ability to think, remember and function slowly fades away.
Vascular Dementia
According to Neurology Health Care, vascular dementia is responsible for 5 to 30 percent of all cases. A decreased blood flow to the brain is the culprit behind this cause of dementia, and can result from a series of mini strokes, syphilis and Lyme disease. Due to the sudden onset of these conditions and diseases, the symptoms of dementia happen more abruptly than the symptoms caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Various Conditions
The remaining causes of dementia account for approximately 20 percent of the remaining cases. One such cause is Lewy body dementia, a condition that resembles Alzheimer's disease. This occurs due to abnormal brain cells referred to as cortical Lewy bodies; these occur through the brain and result in a faster onset of symptoms as well as a quicker progression.
Pick's disease is yet another cause and also resembles Alzheimer's. This condition causes the front and temporal lobes of the brain to atrophy, or decrease in size. According to the Neurology Channel, Pick's disease has a tendency to affect those between the ages of 40 and 60.
