What are the main types of dementia?

The doctor mentioned dementia, but there are so many different names that I got confused. Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body... Are they all the same thing? Why does it matter which type it is?

It's perfectly understandable to feel confused: these are new terms, at a time when you already have a lot to process. Wanting to understand is a good starting point.

Why it happens

Dementia is a general term. Beneath it are different diseases, each with its own cause and way of progressing. Knowing the type helps you understand what symptoms to expect and to adapt care and treatment.

Practical strategies

• Alzheimer's disease: the most common type; often starts with recent memory problems.
• Vascular dementia: linked to circulation problems in the brain, it can appear in "steps".
• Lewy body dementia: combines cognitive changes with rigidity, visual hallucinations, and fluctuations.
• Frontotemporal dementia: mainly affects behaviour and language, sometimes in younger people.
• Mixed forms (more than one type simultaneously) are possible.

What NOT to do

• Do not assume that all types progress in the same way.
• Do not try to determine the type without specialised medical evaluation.

When to seek professional help

The type of dementia is defined by a doctor, usually a neurologist, psychiatrist, or geriatrician, based on examinations. Talk to your GP for a referral. Alzheimer Portugal provides explanatory materials on each type.

"When I realised my husband's illness wasn't Alzheimer's but Lewy body, a lot of things made sense. The hallucinations didn't scare me as much anymore." — Anonymous carer