Understanding The Different Types of Dementia

Jul 30

Assessing where your loved one is on their dementia journey involves careful observation and, ideally, consultation with healthcare professionals. Each person's journey is different, just like they are. What type of dementia(s) they have and their circumstances will affect any discussion around stage, its duration, and how to help them navigate through.

In my mom’s case, as her vascular dementia progressed, she was also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her hybrid of dementias impacted how she progressed through the different stages. But the range of symptoms and behaviors to expect was enough for me to anticipate what was coming next, enough for me to plan.

The brain is a complex organ and we are still learning about it. Much of what we know is through observation. So let’s start with what are the different types of dementia and get a sense of how the disease might progress by type. And then check out our other blogs where we cover the details of the stages. I hope that the combination of information empowers you with knowledge.

What is Dementia

Dementia is not one disease, but a term that represents many different types of dementia. Alzheimer’s is one of the most prevalent types and the FAST score was designed for this type. I refer to the FAST score because it is so well known, but it is important to remember that the progression through the seven FAST stages varies significantly from person to person. Their progression is influenced by factors such as the type of dementia, overall health, genetics, access to care, and the specific form of dementia.

Let’s start by exploring different types of dementia a little more thoroughly. These terms may not all be familiar to you, especially if your loved one hasn’t been formally diagnosed. A diagnosis is helpful because in the early stages there may be therapeutic interventions that could slow down the disease, and the more you know the better prepared you will be.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent type (60-80%) of all dementias. Because it is spoken about more than the others, it is often used as a blanket term for all forms of dementia, which isn’t entirely fair. When I learned that my mom had mixed (hybrid) dementia, understanding the nuances helped me to better understand her specific journey and needs.

Alzheimer’s disease tends to follow the FAST scale closely, with progression occurring gradually over several years. Early stages (Stages 3–4) can last longer due to slower cognitive decline, while later stages (Stages 6–7) are marked by significant physical and cognitive deterioration.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia often progresses differently due to its episodic nature. Stages may last shorter durations if additional strokes or vascular events occur. Progression can be uneven compared to Alzheimer’s disease.

In my mother’s case, we would see a noticeable downturn every six (6) months or so throughout the duration of her disease. In my uncle, who has vascular dementia, his decline has been less visibly evident because he has never been a big conversationalist and with his advanced hearing loss he stopped talking a lot, a long time ago.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD

FTD affects behavior and personality more prominently in the early stages rather than memory. As a result, Stages 3–4 may look different from Alzheimer’s disease but still last for similar durations. Later stages align more closely with the FAST scale.

Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy body dementia includes symptoms like hallucinations and motor impairments alongside cognitive decline. Progression through stages may be faster due to these complications.

Early-Onset Dementia

Early-onset dementia affects individuals under the age of 65 and often progresses more rapidly than typical late-onset dementias. The duration of each stage tends to be shorter due to genetic factors, more aggressive forms of the disease, and greater impact on younger brains.

I have a cousin with early-onset dementia. As her diagnosis overlapped with my mother’s journey, I could compare them a little. My impression was that it took my mom about 2 years to decline as much as my cousin did in six (6) months. So the change in your loved one can be extremely rapid and dramatic. That makes it much more urgent to prepare quickly and its why the toolkit was developed.

Alcohol-Related Brain Injury (ARBI)

ARBI progression depends heavily on whether alcohol consumption stops. If damage stabilizes early, progression through stages may slow significantly compared to other dementias.

Mixed Dementia

Mixed dementia combines features of multiple types (e.g., Alzheimer’s with vascular dementia). Duration varies widely depending on which type dominates at different stages.

Factors Influencing Duration

In addition to “where are we”, everyone wants to know “how long”. There is not a simple answer to that question. But understanding the factors to consider might give you a better sense.

In addition to the type of dementia, there are several other factors that affect how long an individual remains in each FAST stage:

Overall Health: Comorbid conditions like diabetes or heart disease can accelerate progression.
Age: Younger individuals with early-onset dementia may progress faster.
Care Quality: Access to supportive care can slow progression by improving quality of life. Likewise, access to medication at the earliest stages can also slow progression, in some patients.

Please join me in this next blog to continue answering some of your most pressing questions!

In solidarity,