Search Articles

Find Attorneys

A Brief Overview of Dementia

The term "dementia" is thrown around a lot in discussions of elderly individuals, but what exactly does it mean? Dementia is a general term for memory loss that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. This general term encompasses many different diseases, of which Alzheimer's is only the most common. Following is a brief summary of the different types of dementia:

  • Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 70 percent of all cases of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's is a partially hereditary disease that causes a loss of brain cells. It gets progressively worse over time and is fatal. There is no cure, but there are medications that can treat the symptoms and slow its progress.
  • Vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia and is caused by poor circulation to the brain. It may occur after a major stroke or a series of minor strokes. The disease sometimes progresses in recognized steps. The symptoms of vascular dementia vary depending on which area of the brain is affected, but they can include memory loss, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and reduced ability to carry out daily activities. While there is no cure, treatment of high blood pressure and good diabetic control can slow the progress. In addition, drugs that are used to treat Alzheimer's disease can also be used to treat vascular dementia. Some individuals have both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. This is called mixed dementia, and may have a greater impact on the brain than one form of dementia by itself.
  • Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease starts off causing physical symptoms, such as tremors, stiffness, difficulty walking, and speech problems. Dementia may develop late in the disease but not everyone with Parkinson's disease experiences dementia. There are no drugs to treat dementia caused by Parkinson's, but several medications can treat the physical symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
  • Lewy body dementia. Lewy body dementia is caused by deposits of protein on the brain cells. It has characteristics of both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, such as memory loss and slowed movement, but it can also cause visual hallucinations and delusions. There is no cure, but some drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease may help with some of the symptoms.
  • Frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and side lobes of the brain and causes personality and behavior changes. The symptoms vary depending on which areas of the brain are affected but can include inappropriate actions, apathy, excessive happiness and excitement, lack of judgment, and difficulty in using and understanding language. There is no treatment or way to slow the progress of frontotemporal dementia.
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Caused by a protein in the brain that takes on an abnormal shape, CJD is a rare disease that progresses quickly. A variant of CJD can be caused by eating cattle afflicted with "mad cow" disease. The symptoms of CJD include memory impairment, depression, and problems with movement. CJD is fatal and death can occur within a year of contracting the disease. There is no effective treatment.
  • Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). NPH is a rare disease that occurs when fluid builds up in the brain. It causes mental decline as well as loss of bladder control and difficulty walking. It can be treated by surgically by inserting a tube (called a shunt) into the brain to drain the fluid.
  • Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is an inherited brain disorder that is fatal. It starts with physical symptoms, such as jerky movements and problems with balance, and as it progresses can lead to trouble with memory and concentration. There are no treatments to stop or slow the disease, but some of the symptoms can be controlled by medication.
  • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a brain disorder often caused by alcoholism. It leads to confusion, gaps in memory, and making up information, among other things. If caught early enough, it can be treated and the damage can be reversed.

For more information on dementia from the Alzheimer's Association, click here.

For a Gilbert Guide article on "10 Types of Dementia That Aren't Alzheimer's'”& How They're Diagnosed,"click here.

Local Elder Law Attorneys in Your City

Elder Law Attorney

Firm Name
City, State

Elder Law Attorney

Firm Name
City, State

Elder Law Attorney

Firm Name
City, State


Created date: 10/02/2008
Medicaid 101
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

READ MORE
How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

READ MORE
Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

READ MORE
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

READ MORE
How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

READ MORE
Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

READ MORE
Medicaid Planning Strategies

Careful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.

READ MORE
Estate Recovery: Can Medicaid Take My House After I’m Gone?

If steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.

READ MORE
Help Qualifying and Paying for Medicaid, Or Avoiding Nursing Home Care

There are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.

READ MORE
Are Adult Children Responsible for Their Parents’ Care?

Most states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.

READ MORE
Applying for Medicaid

Applying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.

READ MORE
Alternatives to Medicaid

Medicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.

READ MORE
ElderLaw 101
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

READ MORE
Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

READ MORE
Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

READ MORE
Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

READ MORE
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

READ MORE
Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

READ MORE
Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

READ MORE
Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

READ MORE
Long-Term Care Insurance

Understand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.

READ MORE
Medicare

Learn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.

READ MORE
Retirement Planning

We explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.

READ MORE
Senior Living

Find out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.

READ MORE
Social Security

Get a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.

READ MORE
Special Needs Planning

Learn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.

READ MORE
Veterans Benefits

Explore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.

READ MORE