—just to name a few. “Each of these then has its own unique signature in the brain—its own unique hallmarks and progression and symptoms—but they can also occur together sometimes so there’s mixed pathology,” says Sexton. Dementia is simply an umbrella term that refers to any condition that impairs cognition, but there are many conditions that can hinder brainpower. Alzheimer’s is the most common one.
“The FDA-approved medications that we have are mostly for Alzheimer’s dementia because that’s the most common type of dementia and the one that’s most-researched,” explains Dr. Tan. “For other forms of dementia—like Lewy body, frontotemporal dementia,—there’s really no specific FDA-approved medication.” However, he says, a person diagnosed with another form of dementia may still be prescribed a drug that’s designed to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
. As the disease progresses and more of the brain is affected, a person may experience behavior changes, confusion, delusions, and difficulty speaking or walking. Other types of dementia can progress differently, depending on what parts of the brain are affected.Diagnosing and determining the type of dementia a person has can also get tricky because some people don’t have full-blown dementia—they have what doctors refer to as mild cognitive impairment or MCI. With dementia, Dr.
, the first thing to do is see a physician. Dr. Scharre recommends asking for a cognitive assessment at your annual physical so your results can be compared year-over-year and declines can be identified and addressed right away—just like a colonoscopy, blood pressure screening, or cholesterol testing.