Question 1

What about key facts?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 55 million people worldwide live with dementia (2019), with projections reaching 139-152 million by 2050. Dementia is the 7th leading cause of death globally and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people.

Question 2

What about dementia vs alzheimer's?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases, but it is only one of many causes. Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and LATE (TDP-43 encephalopathy) are all distinct conditions with different pathologies, tre

Question 3

What about symptoms and progression?

Accepted Answer

Early symptoms vary by type but commonly include: progressive memory loss (especially recent events), difficulty with planning and problem-solving, confusion with time or place, trouble with visual/spatial relationships, word-finding difficulties, mi

Question 4

What about who gets dementia??

Accepted Answer

Age is the strongest risk factor — risk doubles every 5 years after age 65. However, dementia is NOT inevitable with aging. Women account for approximately 2/3 of Alzheimer's patients, partly due to greater longevity but also due to biological factor

Question 5

What about vascular dementia (5-10%)?

Accepted Answer

The second most common form, caused by impaired blood flow to the brain. Types include multi-infarct, subcortical (Binswanger's), and strategic single-infarct. Typically shows stepwise decline (vs gradual in AD) with prominent executive dysfunction.

Question 6

What about lewy body dementia (5-10%)?

Accepted Answer

Caused by alpha-synuclein protein aggregates (Lewy bodies). Two forms: Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's Disease Dementia (PDD). Key features: fluctuating cognition, vivid visual hallucinations, REM sleep behavior disorder, parkinsonism

Question 7

What about frontotemporal dementia (2-5%)?

Accepted Answer

A group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the frontal and temporal lobes. Behavioral variant (bvFTD): personality changes, disinhibition, apathy, loss of empathy. Semantic variant PPA: progressive loss of word meaning. Nonfluent v

Question 8

What about late — the great mimicker?

Accepted Answer

Limbic-Predominant Age-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE) involves TDP-43 protein deposits in the hippocampus and amygdala. It mimics Alzheimer's clinically — the main symptom is memory loss. Cannot be definitively diagnosed in living patients yet

Question 9

What about mixed dementia?

Accepted Answer

More common than previously recognized — autopsy studies show most elderly have multiple co-existing pathologies. AD + vascular is the most common combination. Up to 50% of AD brains also contain alpha-synuclein (Lewy body) pathology. Complicates tre

Question 10

What about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (cte)?

Accepted Answer

Caused by repetitive head impacts (athletes, military, domestic violence). Tau-based pathology in a unique pattern (perivascular, sulcal depths). Can only be diagnosed at autopsy — no validated in-vivo biomarkers. No treatment or cure; symptom manage

🧠 Dementia & Types

Key Facts

Dementia vs Alzheimer's

Symptoms and Progression

Who Gets Dementia?

Vascular Dementia (5-10%)strong evidence

Lewy Body Dementia (5-10%)strong evidence

Frontotemporal Dementia (2-5%)strong evidence

LATE — The Great Mimickerstrong evidence

Mixed Dementia

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)moderate evidence

Down Syndrome-Associated AD

Other Types