Sometimes early dementia symptoms can be vague, making it hard to identify the type of dementia a person has. It may take several years for enough symptoms to develop to point to a specific type of dementia. By learning about common forms of dementia, you can help your physician more quickly provide an accurate diagnosis.

Some types of dementia are reversible. They may be caused by an interaction of certain medications, a vitamin deficiency, or a curable illness. If you or a loved one notice changes in your memory or other cognitive ability, see your doctor to identify the cause and begin treatment as soon as possible.

Other types of dementia are not reversible and have no known cures. These dementias mainly affect older adults, though some people are diagnosed with early-onset dementia before age 65.

Getting an early and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment is important since people with Lewy body dementia (LBD) often respond differently to certain medications.

Common Forms of Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease involves brain changes that lead to a gradual loss of memory and may also cause problems with language, the ability to do simple math, abstract thinking, and judgment. Other symptoms may include depression, anxiety, personality and behavior changes, and disorientation to time and place (for example, getting lost or not knowing what day it is). LBD is frequently misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage. Over time, changes in movement, hallucinations, or rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder can help distinguish LBD from Alzheimer’s disease.

Lewy body dementia is an umbrella term for a type of dementia associated with the presence of Lewy bodies (abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein) in the brain. It has two related diagnoses, dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia. See What Is Lewy body dementia?

Vascular dementia is caused by a series of small strokes that deprive the brain of oxygen. Signs and symptoms may include disorientation in familiar locations; walking with rapid, shuffling steps; incontinence; laughing or crying inappropriately; difficulty following instructions; and problems handling money. These signs and symptoms may appear suddenly and worsen with additional strokes. Controlling risk factors such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and high cholesterol can help prevent vascular dementia.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) includes several disorders with a variety of symptoms. The most common signs of FTD include changes in personality and behavior, such as inappropriate or compulsive behavior, euphoria, apathy, a decline in personal hygiene, and a lack of awareness of these changes. Some forms of FTD involve language and speech symptoms or movement changes.