Dementia
What is Dementia?
Dementia doesn't fit in a specific disease category. It is actually a condition characterized by progressive cognitive decline and includes many variations. Unfortunately, there isn't a primary test to completely determine if an individual does in fact suffer from dementia.
Find a Doctor Near You
How is Dementia Diagnosed?
At CHRISTUS Health, our physicians work to carefully diagnose the type of dementia a patient has. Through comprehensive analysis of the patient's medical history, laboratory tests and results, changes in day-to-day thinking, and overall function and behavior they are able to make a full and accurate diagnosis and plan for treatment. Our neurologists can determine that a person has dementia, however, diagnosing the exact type can prove to be difficult because symptoms and brain changes of various dementias can overlap.
Various Types of Demenita
Care Close to Home
What are the types of dementia?
There are various types of dementia. A few of those types include:
- Alzheimer's disease: A form of dementia that is characterized by a loss of brain function in the areas of memory, thinking, perception, and behavior due to neuron degeneration.
- Amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A brain condition that is a form of cognitive impairment but is specific to memory loss and may be a transitional state between normal brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.
- Frontotemporal dementia: A rare disorder that damages brain cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. It also affects a person's personality significantly in the form of a decline in social skills as well as emotional apathy and memory loss.
- Vascular dementia (most common): An accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's cavities resulting in added pressure on the brain. Individuals with dementia caused by normal pressure hydrocephalus often experience problems with movement, balance, bladder control, speech, problem-solving abilities, and memory.
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus: An accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's cavities resulting in added pressure on the brain. Individuals with dementia caused by normal pressure hydrocephalus often experience problems with movement, balance, bladder control, speech, problem-solving abilities, and memory.