Charity
2024-2025 Charity
This years charity is Alzheimer’s Society, chosen by Tracey French.
So far this year the club has raised a total of £??
About
Alzheimer’s Society.
What is dementia? Symptoms, causes and treatments
The word 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms that over time can affect memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.
About dementia
Dementia is a group of symptoms. It’s caused by different diseases that damage the brain. The symptoms get worse over time and include:
memory loss
confusion and needing help with daily tasks
problems with language and understanding
changes in behaviour.
Dementia is progressive, which means symptoms may be relatively mild at first, but they get worse over time. There are many types of dementia but Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. The next most common is vascular dementia.
What causes dementia?
Dementia is not a natural part of aging. It is caused when a disease damages nerve cells in the brain.
Nerve cells carry messages between different parts of the brain, and to other parts of the body. As more nerve cells are damaged, the brain becomes less able to work properly.
Dementia can be caused by many different diseases. These diseases affect the brain in different ways, resulting in different types of dementia.
Types of dementia
Around 19 out of 20 people with dementia have one of four main types. Dementia affects everyone differently, however each type has some common early symptoms.
A person may also have mixed dementia where they have symptoms of more than one type.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. For most people, the first signs of Alzheimer’s are problems with their memory, thinking, language or perception.
Read our information on Alzheimer’s disease
What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?
Advice
The main difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia is that Alzheimer’s is a disease in the brain, whereas dementia is a collection of symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease causes cognitive decline, eventually leading to dementia. It’s the most common reason why people get dementia.The main difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia is that Alzheimer’s is a disease in the brain, whereas dementia is a collection of symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease causes cognitive decline, eventually leading to dementia. It’s the most common reason why people get dementia.
Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia. Common early signs of vascular dementia include problems with planning or organising, making decisions or solving problems.
Read our information on vascular dementia
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is caused by Lewy body disease. Symptoms of DLB include having difficulties staying focused, experiencing delusions, and problems with movement and sleep.
It is closely related to Parkinson’s disease.
Read our information on dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the less common types of dementia. It is sometimes called Pick's disease or frontal lobe dementia.
Common symptoms of FTD include changes to personality and behaviour and/or difficulties with language.