Megan Middleton Understanding dementia Unit 40. P1,P2
P1- Describe types of dementia and common signs and symptoms.
There are many types of dementia, these are;
Alzheimer’s disease
Frontotemporal dementia
Vascular dementia
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Huntington’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease
This is the most common type of dementia as around 60 to 80 percent of cases are diagnosed with
this particular type, it causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. Symptoms develop
slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Common
signs and symptoms are;
Signs & symptoms:
Difficulty remembering recent conversations, names or events
Apathy and depression
Impaired communication,
Poor judgment,
Disorientation,
Confusion,
Behaviour changes
Difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.
Brain changes: Hallmark abnormalities are deposits of the protein fragment beta-amyloid (plaques)
and twisted strands of the protein tau (tangles) as well as evidence of nerve cell damage and death
in the brain.
Frontotemporal dementia
This is one of the less common types of dementia. It consists of nerve cell damage caused by
frontotemporal dementia leads to loss of function in these brain regions, which variably cause
deterioration in the individual’s behaviour and character. The two most common types are;
1. A group of brain disorders involving the protein tau.
2. A group of brain disorders involving the protein called TDP43.
Signs & symptoms:
Inappropriate behaviour in public
Impulsivity
Overeating, a change in food preferences (such as suddenly liking sweet foods), poor table
manners
Neglect of personal hygiene
Repetitive or obsessional behaviours, such as humming, hand-rubbing and foot-tapping
Seeming more selfish and unreasonable
Irritability and aggression
Being tactless or rude
Reduced vocabulary
Repeating a limited number of phrases
Automatically repeating things other people have said
Reduced speech and conversation
Loss of bladder and bowel control
P1- Describe types of dementia and common signs and symptoms.
There are many types of dementia, these are;
Alzheimer’s disease
Frontotemporal dementia
Vascular dementia
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Huntington’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease
This is the most common type of dementia as around 60 to 80 percent of cases are diagnosed with
this particular type, it causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. Symptoms develop
slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Common
signs and symptoms are;
Signs & symptoms:
Difficulty remembering recent conversations, names or events
Apathy and depression
Impaired communication,
Poor judgment,
Disorientation,
Confusion,
Behaviour changes
Difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.
Brain changes: Hallmark abnormalities are deposits of the protein fragment beta-amyloid (plaques)
and twisted strands of the protein tau (tangles) as well as evidence of nerve cell damage and death
in the brain.
Frontotemporal dementia
This is one of the less common types of dementia. It consists of nerve cell damage caused by
frontotemporal dementia leads to loss of function in these brain regions, which variably cause
deterioration in the individual’s behaviour and character. The two most common types are;
1. A group of brain disorders involving the protein tau.
2. A group of brain disorders involving the protein called TDP43.
Signs & symptoms:
Inappropriate behaviour in public
Impulsivity
Overeating, a change in food preferences (such as suddenly liking sweet foods), poor table
manners
Neglect of personal hygiene
Repetitive or obsessional behaviours, such as humming, hand-rubbing and foot-tapping
Seeming more selfish and unreasonable
Irritability and aggression
Being tactless or rude
Reduced vocabulary
Repeating a limited number of phrases
Automatically repeating things other people have said
Reduced speech and conversation
Loss of bladder and bowel control
