Four Common Types of Dementia and Their Treatments Explained by Neurologist

Dementia encompasses various conditions, not just a single disease, according to Dr. Hsiao Che-hui, a neurologist at Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital. He outlined four primary types encountered in clinical practice: Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, detailing their distinct characteristics and treatment approaches.

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Common dementia can be divided into true and false types. If unfortunately diagnosed with true 'dementia,' it is not a single disease. Clinically, the most common types are 'Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.'

Alzheimer's disease, the most common form, typically begins with short-term memory loss and involves slow, irreversible cognitive decline. Current treatments focus on medication to delay progression. For mild cases, novel anti-amyloid therapies, though self-funded, are an option. An-Nan Hospital offers early screening blood tests for this condition.

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The first common type of dementia is 'Alzheimer's disease,' with early typical characteristics of short-term memory loss. It is a slow and irreversible degeneration. Currently, the mainstream is to use medication to delay degeneration. Mild patients can consider self-funded new anti-amyloid therapies.

Vascular dementia, often stemming from strokes, presents with a stepwise decline in cognitive function, frequently accompanied by unsteadiness and swallowing difficulties. Management centers on preventing strokes and controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Lewy body dementia is characterized by vivid visual hallucinations and sleep disturbances, alongside motor symptoms like slowness and tremors. Treatment aims to manage symptoms, but patients are highly sensitive to medication side effects.

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The second most common is 'vascular dementia,' mainly caused by stroke. Cognitive function often shows a stepwise deterioration, accompanied by unsteadiness and difficulty swallowing. Treatment focuses on stroke prevention and control of the three highs.

Frontotemporal dementia affects personality, behavior, and language early on, while memory may remain intact. This type can be managed with speech therapy or innovative treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Dr. Hsiao emphasized the importance of basic public awareness regarding these conditions and their treatments.

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The fourth type is 'frontotemporal dementia.' Patients' memory may be normal in the early stages, but their personality, behavior, or language expression will undergo significant changes. Clinically, it can be combined with speech therapy or new treatment methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).