Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of progressive symptoms usually characterised by loss of cognitive, or brain function. Dementia is not a disease in itself - there are many conditions and diseases that cause dementia, including brain injuries. This section provides an overview of the causes of the most common types of dementia.
Alzheimer's Disease
Frontotemporal Dementia
(formerly Pick's Disease)
Vascular
Dementia
Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA)
Lewy Body Dementia
Other Causes of Dementia
Learn more >
Brain Tour
Explore an interactive brain model to learn about the motor and sensory areas of the brain
Early-Onset Dementia
It is commonly misunderstood that only older people can develop dementia and that it is an inevitable part of ageing. Dementia is more common in people over the age of 65. However, people can develop dementia earlier in life; a diagnosis before the age of 65 is known as early on-set or young on-set dementia. Usually, people in their 40s, 50s and 60s are affected. According to Dementia UK, there is an estimated 42,000 people living with early onset dementia in the UK. Being diagnosed at an earlier age can present its own set of challenges as people will usually still be working, they have young children and different financial commitments. It is important to raise awareness and help to reduce the stigma that only older people are affected by dementia.
'Around 5% of people with Alzheimer's disease are under the age of 65'
​
Mixed Dementia
Mixed dementia is a condition in which people experience changes to the brain simultaneously. The most common type of mixed dementia is when proteins found in Alzheimer's disease is combined with vascular damage. The changes related to Lewy body dementia often coexist with Alzheimer's. Some people may experience a combination of all Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.