Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, but not the only one. I've had several conversations with people lately about other types of dementia. Here are a few I've chosen to highlight today.
Take normal pressure hydrocephalus, for example. This potentially reversible condition is caused by the building up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. If the fluid is drained, symptoms sometimes improve.
Or, how about frontotemporal dementia (FTD)? FTD is a term that groups several related dementias together, including Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration. Sound confusing? These four types of frontotemporal dementia are all caused primarily by changes in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Then there's vitamin B12 deficiency. Research suggests that lower levels of B12 are connected to confusion, memory loss, and behavior changes- symptoms that also characterize Alzheimer's disease. Be sure to ask your doctor about having your vitamin B12 levels tested to guard against low levels.
And, there's also Huntington's disease. This inherited dementia generally affects a younger age group than Alzheimer's, with symptoms typically beginning between age 30 and 50. People who have a family history of this disease often choose to get tested to see if they carry the gene for Huntington's disease.
Learning about the different types of dementia can be helpful, especially when you are searching for answers about symptoms. Receiving an accurate diagnosis may be a challenge at times, but it's worth persisting since treatment and prognosis can vary.
It's my hope that the information provided here helps with that challenge.
