In this episode of The Truth Lies & Alzheimer’s, we break down what dementia really is, how it affects the brain, and why understanding the differences between various types of dementia is so important for families, caregivers, and professionals.

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of progressive neurological conditions that impact memory, thinking, behavior, and daily functioning. While some cognitive changes are part of normal aging, dementia involves much greater loss of brain cells and connections—and symptoms worsen over time.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. The difference between normal aging and dementia
2. Four of the most common types of dementia:
3. Alzheimer’s disease
4. Frontotemporal dementia
5. Lewy body dementia
6. Vascular dementia
7. What is happening inside the brain with each condition
8. Common symptoms and how they progress
9. Typical ages of diagnosis
10. Why dementia can be difficult to diagnose
11. Current treatment approaches and limitations

We also take a deeper dive into Alzheimer’s disease, including:

1. How Alzheimer’s develops in the brain
2. The role of amyloid plaques and tau tangles
3. Early signs and stages of the disease
4. Genetic, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors

The episode closes with practical insight into brain health, overstimulation, and regulation—exploring how constant digital input can contribute to burnout, and why slowing down, disconnecting, and engaging in real-world connection supports clearer thinking and emotional balance.

This information was reviewed and updated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with the most recent updates noted through June 5, 2025.

Resources

1. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
2. National Institute on Aging (NIA)
3. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research
4. Elder Law Answers – Dementia Risk Factors & Screenings

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

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Hi everybody. Welcome to another new episode

of the truth, lies and Alzheimer's show. I'm Lisa

Skinner, your host, and I am going to be talking about the

most common types of dementia. I'm not sure if you're aware of

this, but there actually are over 100 known brain diseases

that cause dementia, and I'm going to be sharing with you the

four most common types. You know, as we age, it's normal to

lose some neurons in the brain. People living with dementia,

however, experience far greater loss. Many neurons stop working,

lose connections with other brain cells and eventually die

at first. The symptoms can be mild, but they do get worse over

time. So today I'm going to talk about four of the over 100

different types of known brain diseases. So currently, these

are the most common types of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is

number one, and then there's Frontotemporal dementia. There's

Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia. Remember, dementia is

used as an umbrella term that includes a range of neurological

conditions affecting the brain that continue to progress over

time, and refers to the symptoms that present with these

conditions. What is happening with the brain when these

diseases strike? With Alzheimer's disease, abnormal

deposits of proteins form amyloid plaques and tau tangles

throughout the brain with Frontotemporal dementia,

abnormal amounts or forms of tau and TDP, four, three proteins

accumulate inside neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes. Lewy

body dementia. This is where abnormal deposits of the Alpha

synuclein protein called Lewy bodies affect the brain's

chemical messengers with vascular dementia, conditions

such as blood clots disrupt blood flow in the brain. Now I

want to note that these changes are just one piece of a complex

puzzle that scientists are studying to understand the

underlying causes of these forms of dementia and others. So I'm

going to describe the different symptomology of the four

different types of brain disease that we're discussing. So some

of the common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in the mild

stage include wandering and getting lost, repeating

questions. Then as it progresses to the moderate stage, people

start having problems Recognizing Friends and family,

and you might see impulsive behaviors. And then as they

progress to the severe stage, most people cannot communicate.

Now these are just a few of the many, many symptoms that we see.

So some of the symptoms that you can expect to see a frontal

temporal dementia would be behavioral and emotional such as

difficulty planning or organizing impulsive behaviors

emotional flatness or executive excessive emotions. People who

are experiencing Frontotemporal dementia can have movement

problems, like shaky hands, problems with their balance and

walking, they can have language problems such as difficulty

making or understanding speech. Now there are several types of

frontotemporal disorders, so the symptoms can vary by type Lewy

body dementia. People will suffer cognitive decline, for

example, the inability to concentrate, to pay attention or

to stay alert. They may have disorganized or. Illogical

ideas, you'll see sometimes movement problems such as muscle

rigidity, loss of coordination and reduced facial expression.

You might see sleep disorders such as insomnia or excessive

daytime sleepiness and visual hallucinations with Lewy body

dementia. Symptoms of vascular dementia could include

forgetting current or past events, misplacing items

trouble, following instructions and or learning new information

hallucination or delusions and poor judgment. The typical age

of diagnosis for these types of dementia are for Alzheimer's

disease typically shows up in the mid 60s and above, with some

cases in the mid 30s to 60s. And we call that early onset

Alzheimer's disease. For Frontotemporal dementia, it can

typically show up between the age of 45 and 64 Lewy body

dementia, 50 and older and vascular dementia typically

shows up after the age of 65. Diagnosis for these four types

of dementia are that symptoms can be similar among different

types of dementia, and some people have more than one form

of dementia happening at the same time. We call that mixed

dementia, and that can obviously make an accurate diagnosis,

extremely difficult. Symptoms can also vary from person to

person. The doctors may ask for a medical history, complete a

physical exam and or neurological and laboratory test

to help diagnose dementia. There's currently no cure for

any of these types of dementia, but some treatments are

available, so you want to speak with your doctor to find out

what might work best for you. Living with dementia can be

challenging, but there are ways to manage it. So the information

that I am sharing with you today was last updated by the National

Institutes of Health on June 5, 2025 so it is very current and

very recent, as we know. Alzheimer's disease is a brain

disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and

eventually the ability to carry out the simple tasks in most

people with Alzheimer's symptoms first appear later in life.

Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 6 million

Americans, most of them age 65 or older, may have Alzheimer's

disease. It is currently ranked as the seventh leading cause of

death in the United States, and is the most common cause of

dementia among older adults. It's the number one leading

cause of death in the UK, in the Netherlands, and in Finland. Oh

and they just added Australia. Dementia is the loss of

cognitive functioning, thinking, remembering and reasoning and

behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a

person's daily life and activities. Dementia ranges in

severity from the mildest stage when it's just beginning to

affect a person's functioning to the most severe stage, when the

person must depend completely on others for help with even the

basic activities of daily living. The causes of dementia

can vary depending on the types of brain changes that may be

taking place. Other forms of dementia do include Lewy body

dementia, the frontotemporal disorder and vascular dementia.

And again, it is common, more common than most of us realize

for people to have mixed dementia, a combination of two

or more types of dementia. For example, some people can be

experiencing both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

simultaneously.

So. Alzheimer's disease has been around for a long time. It was

named after Dr Eloise Alzheimer and way back in 1906 Dr

Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had

died of a unusual mental illness, her symptoms included

memory loss, language problems and unpredictable behavior. So

after she died, Dr Alzheimer examined her brain and found

many abnormal clumps that we now refer to as amyloid plaques and

tangled bundles of fibers in her brain. Those fibers are now

called neurofibrillary or tau tangles. Now these plaques and

tangles in her brain, in the brain are still considered some

of the main features of Alzheimer's disease. Another

feature is the loss of connections between neurons in

our brains. The neurons transmit messages between different parts

of our brain and from the brain to muscles and organs in our

bodies. So exactly, how does Alzheimer's affect the brain?

Well, scientists are continuing to unravel the complex brain

changes involved in Alzheimer's disease. Changes in the brain

may begin a decade or more before symptoms actually appear

during this very early stage of Alzheimer's toxic changes are

taking place in the brain, including abnormal buildups of

protein that form amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Previously healthy neurons stop functioning. They lose

connections with other neurons and eventually die. Many other

complex brain changes are thought to play a role in

Alzheimer's as well. The damage initially appears to take place

in the hippocampus and Intrahealth cortex, which are

parts of the brain that are essential in forming memories.

As more neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected

and begin to shrink by the final stages of Alzheimer's damage is

widespread, and brain tissue has shrunk significantly. I'm going

to discuss more common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of

cognitive impairment related to Alzheimer's some people with

memory problems have a condition called mild cognitive

impairment, or MCI, as it's more commonly referred to, with MCI,

people have more memory problems than normal for their age, but

their symptoms still do not interfere with everyday life,

with their everyday lives, movement difficulties and

problems with sense of smell have also been linked to MCI.

Older people with MCI are at greater risk of developing

Alzheimer's, but not all of them do so. Some may even revert to

normal cognition. But I want to emphasize that it really depends

on what's causing the symptomology. If the root cause

is one of the over 100 brain diseases that we know of, then

it will progress to full blown dementia. If there's another

medical condition that's causing the symptoms that we see that

are similar to full blown dementia, then it can be treated

like a thyroid condition. For example, the first symptoms of

Alzheimer's do vary from person to person. For many decline in

non memory aspects of cognition, such as word finding, visual and

spatial issues and impaired reasoning or judgment may signal

the very early stages of the disease. Researchers are

studying biomarkers, which we talked about in a very recent

episode. And biomarkers are the biological signs of disease

found in brain images, in cerebrospinal fluid and in

blood. Tests to detect early changes in the brains of people

with mild cognitive impairment and in cognitively normal people

who may be at greater risk for developing Alzheimer's disease.

However, more research is needed before these techniques can be

used broadly and routinely to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in

a health care provider's office. A little bit more about the

stages of Alzheimer's disease, since it is the number one most

common type of brain disease that causes dementia. So

usually, and of course, these vary from person to person, but

typical for mild Alzheimer's disease, as it worsens, people

experience greater memory loss and other cognitive

difficulties. Problems can include wandering and getting

lost, trouble, handling money and paying bills, repeating

questions or stories in the same conversation, taking longer to

complete normal tasks, and we'll see personality and behavioral

changes. People are often diagnosed in this stage moderate

Alzheimer's disease. In this stage, damage occurs in the

areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, conscious

thought and sensory processing, such as the ability to correctly

detect sounds and smells. Memory loss and confusion grow worse,

and people begin to have problems recognizing family and

friends. They may be unable to learn new things, carry out

multi step tasks such as getting dressed or cope with new

situations. In addition, people at this stage may have

hallucinations, delusions and paranoia and may behave

impulsively when we get to the severe stage of Alzheimer's

disease. This is when plaques and tangles are spreading

throughout the brain, and brain tissue shrinks significantly. We

call this atrophy. People with severe Alzheimer's disease

cannot communicate and are completely dependent on others

for their care. Near the end of life, the person may be in bed

most or all of the time as their body is shutting down. In recent

years, scientists have made tremendous progress in better

understanding Alzheimer's and the momentum continues to grow.

But unfortunately, scientists still do not yet fully

understand what causes Alzheimer's disease in most

people, the causes probably include a combination of age

related changes in the brain, along with genetic,

environmental and lifestyle factors. The importance of any

one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the

risk of developing Alzheimer's may differ from person to

person.

Scientists are conducting studies to learn more about

plaques, tangles and other biological features of

Alzheimer's. Advances in brain imaging techniques enable

research serves to actually see the development and spread of

these abnormal amyloid and tau proteins in the living brain, as

well as changes in brain structure and function.

Scientists are also exploring the very earliest steps in the

disease process by studying changes in the brain and body

fluids that can be detected years before Alzheimer's

symptoms appear. Findings from these studies will help improve

our understanding of the causes of Alzheimer's and make a

diagnosis easier. One of the greatest mysteries of

Alzheimer's is, why does it largely affect older adults?

Research on normal brain aging is exploring this question. For

example, scientists are learning how age related changes in the

brain. Brain may harm neurons and affect other types of brain

cells to contribute to Alzheimer's damage. These age

related changes include, once again, atrophy or shrinking of

the brain, especially certain parts of the brain, also

inflammation, also blood vessel damage, production of unstable

molecules called free radicals and mitochondrial dysfunction,

which is a breakdown of energy production within a cell in most

cases, Alzheimer's does not have a single genetic cause. Instead,

it's likely influenced by multiple genes in combination

with lifestyle and environmental factors. Changes in genes called

genetic variations may increase or decrease a person's risk of

developing the disease. Scientists currently know of

more than 80 genetic regions associated with Alzheimer's. Of

the genetic variants associated with Alzheimer's, so far, only

three are known to cause the actual disease, and although it

happens rarely, when someone inherits, when someone inherits

an altered version of one of these genes, the A P, P The P S

e n1 or PSE and two, they will likely develop Alzheimer's

before age 65 and sometimes much earlier. Now this is

interesting. People with Down syndrome also have a higher risk

of developing Alzheimer's earlier in life. Down Syndrome

results from having an extra chromosome 21 which carries the

ATP gene that produces the amyloid precursor protein, too

much of this protein leads to buildup of beta amyloid plaques

in the brain. Estimates suggest that 50% or more of people

living with Down syndrome will develop Alzheimer's disease with

symptoms appearing starting in their 50s and 60s. Now there's

another, another genetic variation, which I've talked

about in the past, and this is the one that's called the A P O

E gene, and it has several forms. It's known to influence

the risk of Alzheimer's disease, specifically the A P O e4 this

one increases a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's, and is

also associated with developing Alzheimer's earlier in life for

certain populations, the A, P, O, e2, may provide some

protection against Alzheimer's changes in different genes,

along with other biomedical, lifestyle and environmental

factors, play a role in potentially developing

Alzheimer's. Still, it is never known for certain if any

individual will or will not develop the disease. The bottom

line, it's a crapshoot for all of us. To put it bluntly,

research suggests that a host of factors beyond genetics may play

a role in the development and course of Alzheimer's, there is

a great deal of interest, for example, in the relationship

between cognitive decline and vascular conditions such as

heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, as Well as

metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, ongoing

research will help us understand whether and how reducing these

risk factors for these conditions may also help reduce

the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. To date,

it's recommended that a nutritious diet, along with

physical activity and social engagement and mentally

stimulating pursuits have all been associated with helping

people stay healthy as they age and. These factors might also

help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and

Alzheimer's disease, researchers are testing some of these

possibilities in clinical trials. Finally, as we know,

Alzheimer's disease is complex period and it is therefore

unlikely that any one drug or other intervention will

successfully treat it in all people who are living with this

disease in ongoing clinical trials, scientists are

developing and testing several possible treatment

interventions. While there is currently no cure for

Alzheimer's disease, medications are emerging to treat the

progression of the disease by targeting its underlying causes,

there are also medications that may temporarily improve or

stabilize memory and thinking skills in some people and may

help manage certain symptoms and behavioral problems.

Additionally, people with Alzheimer's also may experience

sleeplessness, depression, anxiety, agitation and other

behavioral and psychological symptoms. But scientists are

continuing to research why these symptoms occur, and are

exploring new medications and non drug strategies to manage

them. Research shows that treating these symptoms may make

people with Alzheimer's feel more comfortable and also help

relieve caregiver burnout and stress, antidepressants,

antipsychotics and anti anxiety drugs may be helpful for some

people with Alzheimer's disease, but experts agree that these

medications should be used only after other strategies to

prevent to promote physical and emotional comfort, such as

avoiding stressful situations, have been tried, so it's always

important to talk with your doctor about what treatment will

be most effective for your situation. This content has been

provided by the National Institutes on Aging or Nia.

Scientists and experts do review this content to ensure that it's

accurate and up to date. And it was last reviewed on April 5,

2023 I want to include real news that you can use in today's

episode, because I found something that I find was just

fascinating and interesting, and I wanted to share it with you.

Scrolling makes you reactive. Droling makes you reflective.

Most people think burnout comes from overwork, but often it's

from over stimulation. Every scroll, every ping and every

swipe, spikes our dopamine. You feel busy but not fulfilled.

You feel stimulated but not stable. Your brain gets stuck in

what's called survival mode, constant mental noise, shorter

attention spans, less empathy and patience. When you walk,

disconnect or move slowly, the chemistry actually flips

serotonin and oxytocin rise prefrontal activity, which is

the logic and leadership center of our brains, comes back

online. You start to think clearly again. This is not just

relaxation, it's regulation, and regulation is what separates

reactivity from leadership. High performers aren't the ones doing

the most. They're the ones thinking the clearest. So three

ways to expand your mind, redesign your digital space,

remove social apps from your home screen and turn off

suggested feeds, increase scrolling friction and regain

focus. Notice the world again. Your brain filters out what you

stop paying attention. Mentioned to so sit quietly, observe

nature and look for patterns, light and sound, and then make a

new connection. Maybe you want to speak to your barista,

compliment a stranger. Connection activates neuro

chemicals that scrolling cannot replicate. Reactivity shrinks

your world, reflection expands it. And that is hopefully some

real news you can definitely use in your everyday life. So

that'll do it for today's episode of the truth lies and

Alzheimer's show. I'm Lisa Skinner, your host. I hope

you've enjoyed the information that I have shared with you

today and that it helps somebody out there who may eventually be

experiencing dementia. So as always, I wish you a great rest

of your week for all of you to stay happy and healthy, and I'll

be back next week with another episode of the truth lies and

Alzheimer's show, Take care for now. Bye, bye.