Causes of Dementia

What Causes Dementia?

There are numerous causes of dementia.^[3] Some causes are irreversible and are degenerative forms of dementia. Degenerative dementia means that brain cells decline and die. Other forms of dementia are curable or reversible. Here are some the more common causes of dementia.

Examples of Irreversible (Degenerative) Dementia^[12][13]

Irreversible dementias are not curable. The following conditions may produce such dementia:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinson's disease
• Huntington's
• Vascular dementia - This is an umbrella term for brain impairment due to problems with blood vessels in the brain. A stroke may block blood to the brain and result in death of brain cells. Reduced blood flow may also cause dementia.

Examples of Reversible Dementia^[2][12]

Dementia is also sometimes caused by temporary or reversible causes. These may include the following:

• Toxic reaction to drugs - As our bodies slow down, drugs are not used up or eliminated very well. This can result in dementia-like symptoms. The list of drugs that can do this is very long. Always let your doctor know all the drugs and over-the-counter medicines you are taking. Changing medicines or dosage can reverse this form of dementia.
• Depression - Depression can mimic dementia. It is not a true dementia but may have symptoms similar to dementia such as forgetfulness and disorientation. Depression can be treated effectively.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency - Usually this is due to inability to absorb the vitamin from food you eat. This can be addressed through injections of B12.
• Hydrocephalus - also known as "water on the brain". Fluid in the brain is not drained properly in hydrocephalus and can lead to dementia, loss of bladder control and walking in a slow, hesitant manner. This condition may occur congenitally or as the result of head trauma, leaking blood vessels in the brain, or an inflammation of the covering of the brain. Occasionally, it occurs without any known cause. It is reversible through the placement of a shunt or tube in the brain that drains fluid.
• Infections and Immune Disorders - Fever and other effects of the body's attempt to fight infection can cause dementia. Examples of such infections include meningitis, encephalitis, untreated syphilis, Lyme disease, HIV and leukemia.