What Causes Dementia? Risk Factors For Developing Dementia Symptoms

In general, dementia is not a specific disease, but rather a word used to refer to a variety of symptoms involving memory loss, cognitive impairment, and functional difficulties, often in older adults. Dementia symptoms can be directly caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. 

However, there are several additional diseases and medical conditions that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Some of these conditions also involve damage to brain cells, in which case symptoms like cognitive decline may be permanent. However, some conditions may involve temporary pressures on the brain or deficiencies in nutrients, which can typically be resolved through medical attention. Individuals living with dementia and their caregivers often benefit from attending regular therapy sessions to address any challenges they’re experiencing.

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Causes of permanent dementia

• Specific dementia-associated conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and mixed dementia
• Huntington’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Pick’s disease
• Progressive supranuclear palsy
• Severe or chronic inflammation from conditions like HIV/AIDS, syphilis, Lyme disease, or meningitis
• Some forms of traumatic brain injury
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Leukoencephalopathies (diseases that impact the deeper, white matter tissue inside the brain)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Multiple system atrophy (a group of degenerative brain diseases)
• Argyrophilic grain disease
• Corticobasal degeneration
• Wilson’s disease
• Some types of brain tumors

Potentially reversible causes of dementia symptoms

• Severe and long-term alcohol use disorder
• Low vitamin B12 levels
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus (a condition where fluid has accumulated in the skull and is exerting pressure on the brain)
• Metabolic causes, such as changes in calcium, sodium, or blood sugar levels
• Thyroid problems
• Blood clots in the brain
• Side effects of certain medications, such as cimetidine (an ulcer medication) and some medications used to treat high levels of cholesterol
• Subdural bleeding, or bleeding occurring between the skull and the surface of the brain
• Delirium
• Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety
• Increased physical pressure in the brain, for any reason
• Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels in the brain)
  

Causes of specific dementia conditions

Scientists have researched and conducted clinical trials on forms of dementia frequently associated with aging, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, we now have a better understanding of what may cause people to develop dementia in these circumstances. 

Alzheimer’s disease

The first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is usually difficulty remembering events that happened recently, such as earlier in the day or earlier in the week. As the disease worsens, people may also have trouble recollecting memories from long ago, and they may experience personality changes, cognitive impairment, and difficulties with basic functions, such as walking and talking. 

Alzheimer’s disease is typically caused by an abnormal buildup of specific proteins in the brain, referred to as plaques and tangles. Plaques can be defined as clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid and can build up around brain cells, affecting their ability to connect with each other and produce neurotransmitters, which can be thought of as chemical messengers that communicate between different brain cells. 

Tangles tend to be composed mainly of tau proteins and are typically found within brain cells themselves, impacting their functionality. The formation of plaques and tangles usually begins in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that affects how you form memories, which may be why the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is normally difficulty remembering recent events, as the hippocampus is struggling to encode new memories. 

The buildup of plaques and tangles in the brain after a certain age is thought to be highly influenced by genes. One of the biggest risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease is having a relative with the condition, particularly a parent who can pass down their genes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that this situation can increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 10% to 30%. 

Lewy body dementia

Lewy body dementia is usually marked by unique symptoms, most notably hallucinations, that may not occur in other forms of dementia. Hallucinations typically manifest for Lewy body dementia patients as seeing things that are not actually there, although some patients may also smell scents or hear voices unconnected to external stimuli. Other symptoms can include the following:

• Trouble with sleeping through the night
• Confusion
• Stiffness
• Difficulty paying attention
• Trembling
• Daytime sleepiness

More “typical” dementia symptoms like memory loss and cognitive impairment usually don’t occur until later in the disease’s progression. This more unique symptom progression can be explained by the brain changes that give Lewy body dementia its name: the increased buildup of a highly specific protein, alpha-synuclein. Clumps of these proteins are generally known as Lewy bodies. 

Frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia is a rare form of the disease that typically emerges in people younger than 60, usually between the ages of 45 and 60 years old. Frontotemporal dementia can be one of the more severe forms of dementia because it primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, hence its name. These sections of the brain tend to be associated with personality, behavior, language, problem-solving, and higher order thinking and reasoning.

Inappropriate or embarrassing behavior that is out of character for the person is typically the first sign of someone developing frontotemporal dementia, along with neglect of responsibilities at work or at home. As the disease progresses, individuals may also display changes in personality, thinking patterns, judgment, and emotional regulation. Their ability to move their eyes, swallow, smell, recognize musical rhythm, and process language, including reading, writing, and speaking, can all be negatively affected. 

Frontotemporal dementia normally results from an abnormal buildup of tau proteins (similar to Alzheimer’s) and another form of protein known as TDP-43. The protein buildup is usually concentrated within the aforementioned frontal and temporal brain lobes. Frontotemporal dementia can be highly genetic and heritable. In some instances, children of people with frontotemporal dementia have a 50/50 chance of developing it themselves. 

Finding support for living with dementia or caring for a dementia patient

Regardless of what may have led to the development of dementia, experiencing dementia symptoms or watching a loved one display signs of cognitive decline can be demoralizing and have a notable impact on your mental health. 

Talking to a licensed therapist can mitigate some of these effects, but with concerns about driving capabilities in dementia patients, an in-person therapy appointment may not be a viable option. Online therapy, accessed from the safety of home, can bridge the gap in these situations. 

Research has indicated that online therapy can be an effective way of addressing mental health concerns, including those related to dementia or being a dementia caregiver. One study found that a course of online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in people who were caring for a loved one with dementia. Online therapy could be a beneficial resource for managing some of dementia’s most adverse effects on friends and family members of the patient.