What Causes
Dementia
At Fox Trail Memory Care Living, we provide compassionate Dementia care to people in north and central New Jersey and Manhattan, NY. We offer care safe, secure, and inviting senior living communities specially designed with memory care in mind. In addition to professional care, we aim to educate families about the cognitive conditions ailing their loved ones. Discover what causes Dementia and the support available at Fox Trail Memory Care Living.
What Causes Dementia?
Dementia is not a single illness. Instead, it’s a term used to categorize a group of brain disorders. The symptoms of Dementia can vary but generally cause a decline in a person’s ability to recount information, solve problems, and perform other cognitive skills. Because it’s a collection of diseases, the causes of Dementia are unique to each specific condition.
Although increasing age is the biggest risk factor for developing Dementia, it’s not a part of the natural aging process. Dementia is present when a disease creates changes in the brain, resulting in damage to nerve cells. The most likely cause of damage to nerve cells is an abnormal buildup of proteins in the brain.
Nerve cells are responsible for carrying messages between various parts of the brain, along with other areas of the body. When enough nerve cells become damaged, the brain is unable to function normally, resulting in progressive cognitive decline and other symptoms associated with Dementia, such as changes in mood and behaviors.
Different Kinds of Dementia and Their Causes
The causes of the various types of Dementia include:
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Dementia, impacting nearly 7 million adults in the United States. Alzheimer’s disease statistics show about one in nine people aged 65 and older is living with Alzheimer’s and coping with symptoms.
Experts believe this cognitive disorder is caused by the unusual buildup of amyloid and tau proteins. Research shows people with Alzheimer’s display deposits of amyloid and tau within brain cells. Ongoing research continues to explore why amyloid and tau proteins are involved in the loss of brain cells.
The damage to brain cells in Alzheimer’s patients causes a decrease in chemical messengers, also called neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers are tasked with sending messages or signals between brain cells, and their decrease limits the brain’s ability to work properly.
Vascular Dementia
This type of Dementia is caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain. The reduction damages and eventually kills brain cells. Individuals can experience a loss of blood flow to the brain for the following reasons:
- A narrowing and blockage of small blood vessels in the brain
- Blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly cut off, in most cases from a stroke
- Widespread damage to the brain, which can be the result of several mini-strokes over time
It’s important to note that while experiencing a stroke increases a person’s chances of Dementia, not everyone who has a stroke will go on to develop Vascular Dementia. Other risk factors for developing Vascular Dementia include high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
Lewy Body Dementia
Another common type of Dementia is Lewy Body Dementia, accounting for about 5 to 10% of Dementia cases. Lewy Body Dementia involves the buildup of tiny clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein. The clumps can develop inside the brain’s nerve cells, causing damage and affecting the way the cells work and communicate with each other. Eventually, the clumps cause brain cells to die, permanently altering the brain’s ability to function.
Lewy Body Dementia symptoms are closely related to the symptoms of another cognitive condition called Parkinson’s disease. The symptoms both disorders share include:
- Difficulty with movement and balance
- Changes in sleep habits
- Memory loss
- Trouble planning and problem-solving
- Hallucinations and delusions
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal Dementia is mostly seen in adults who are diagnosed with Dementia early, usually between the ages of 45 and 64. This type of Dementia is the result of damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, caused by an abnormal clumping of proteins.
The buildup of proteins damages brain cells and causes them to die, leading to the shrinking of the frontal and temporal lobes. People living with Frontotemporal Dementia often experience changes in social behavior, such as personality, language skills, and motor coordination.
Mixed Dementia
Mixed Dementia is the combination of two or more types of Dementia. The most common combination is Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular Dementia, but other combinations are possible. The exact cause of Mixed Dementia is difficult to pinpoint, as it can be difficult to gauge how much each form of Dementia is contributing to a person’s ailments.
Mixed Dementia is more common in people 80 and older. The symptoms of each Dementia often overlap. Cognitive decline occurs at a much faster rate in people who have Mixed Dementia compared with those who have only one type.
Other Diseases Leading to Dementia
There are several health conditions and diseases that have been linked to Dementia and can cause Dementia-like symptoms. They include:
- Huntington disease
- Traumatic brain injury
- Corticobasal degeneration
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
- Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Dementia Care at Fox Trail Memory Care Living
No matter what causes a positive diagnosis of Dementia, people living with the symptoms and their families must consider suitable long-term care. Waiting to make arrangements can place strain on both the individuals requiring support and other family members.
Fox Trail Memory Care Living is pleased to provide person-centered care to individuals living with all types of Dementia. We offer:
Understanding that every resident is unique, the care we deliver is personalized and involves elements that are specific to them, including interests, cognitive skills, health, personality, and more.
We offer Dementia care in our communities designed for those with cognitive impairments. Residents will enjoy quiet, secure, and welcoming living environments that feature private living quarters and several communal areas where residents and their families are encouraged to gather. Residents and their family members will have plenty of opportunities to socialize with one another and establish meaningful and lasting connections.
The well-being of your loved one is always our biggest concern. Fox Trail Memory Care Living employs a team of Dementia-certified staff members to meet the needs of our residents. Approaching memory care as a collaborative effort, our highly trained staff works to provide appropriate care and support to our residents. Our support services include around-the-clock care to ensure your loved one is always in expert hands.
Fox Trail Memory Care Living is different from an assisted living facility where elderly adults go to live out their remaining years. Instead, we are a memory care community. We offer wellness and lifestyle programs to engage residents and enrich their lives so they can achieve fulfilling aging.
Tour Our Dementia Care Communities
Fox Trail Memory Care Living provides professional Dementia care and education to individuals and their families. We offer a wide range of amenities and support services in our communities in northern and central New Jersey. We encourage you to tour our communities and see firsthand the quality of care we offer. Contact us today to learn more about what causes Dementia and what care is available.