Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)

This type of dementia accounts for 10-15% of all dementia cases in the UK. DLB can often be misdiagnosed, being mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease instead. Lewy body dementia is another term used to describe DLB. Lewy bodies can also cause Parkinson’s disease, affecting the brain and nervous system which will gradually worsen.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)

FTD covers a wide range of conditions. It can sometimes be called Pick’s disease or frontal lobe dementia. ‘Frontotemporal’ refers to damaged lobes of the brain as a result of dementia. Frontal lobes are found behind the forehead and control our behaviour, problem-solving abilities, planning, organisation and control of emotions. The area to the left of the frontal lobe controls our speech. FTD occurs when nerve cells in the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain begin to die, causing the pathways that connect the two lobes to change. FTD is a less common form of dementia, meaning the majority of people may not have heard of it.

Young-onset dementia

If someone has dementia who is under the age of 65, then they will be diagnosed with young-onset dementia. Dementia is not determined by a person’s age, although younger people will have different needs and will need to be supported in a different way to someone who is over the age of 65 and living with dementia.

To learn more about the different types of dementia, visit the Alzheimer’s Society website.