Effect of Non-Alzheimers Dementia on Personality

Dementia includes impairment of brain function, behavioral changes, and learning and communication problems. Dementia is not always related to diseases such as Alzheimer's or some form of brain injury. The 2007 Health and Retirement Study showed that one in seven Americans age 70 and older suffer from dementia.

Vascular Dementia

• A stroke can affect the blood flow to the brain and result in symptoms such as confusion, disorientation and memory problems. The symptoms of dementia are similar to Alzheimer's, but the problems often start suddenly, and recognition of people is not typically impaired.

Lewy Bodies

• Lewy bodies are protein deposits in the brain that have a progressive effect on cognitive function. Symptoms can be changeable and extreme, with hallucinations, sleep disorders, confusion and memory problems.

Frontotemporal Dementia

• When there is damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, there may be changes such as mood swings, impaired judgment, language problems and uninhibited behavior. Symptoms are progressive.

Huntington's Disease

• Huntington's disease is a genetic condition that destroys brain cells. Impairment of judgment and attention tend to occur before memory loss. Mood swings and disorientation are also common.

Infectious Disease

• Impairment of memory and concentration can result from certain brain infections. HIV is an example of a virus that can infect the brain. An abnormal protein causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, in which changes in memory and behavior progress quickly.