Mixed dementias

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Mixed dementias

Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia; however, dementia is

also associated with vascular disease, Lewy body disease and

Parkinson's disease.

According to Sister Rosemary, an individual person's dementia can be

associated with more than one disease. For example, a patient may

have dementia from Alzheimer's and vascular disease, or Alzheimer's

and Lewy body disease, or Parkinson's with Alzheimer's, or vascular

disease with Alzheimer's and Lewy body disease.

Medical research has shown that approximately 20 percent of people

with dementia have Lewy body disease, in which round clumps of

protein appear in the brain.

" The cause of Lewy body disease and the risk factors that bring it on

are unknown, " Sister Rosemary said, adding that it also does not seem

to be inherited.

Unlike Alzheimer's disease, in Lewy body disease there is a

fluctuation in cognitive functioning.

" Attention span and alertness comes and goes, " Sister Rosemary

said. " It is usually noticed when a person is working or in the

process of a task or a conversation, and they just seem to drift.

Then 10 minutes later they are paying attention and they know what's

going on. "

The loss of alertness may occur for hours at a time, it may be more

noticeable in the morning or afternoon, or it may occur for days at a

time.

Source:

http://www.catholicspirit.com/stories/2008/8_28_08/alzheimers.html