Dementia: Causes

• What causes dementia?
• Are there different types of dementia?
• The ASHA Leader articles

What causes dementia?

Dementia has many causes including the following:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Multiple small strokes (multi-infarct dementia) 
• Parkinson's disease
• Huntington's disease
• Drug use or interactions
• Depression
• Brain tumors
• Head trauma
• Alcoholism
• Other cerebrovascular disease

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Are there different types of dementia?

There are a number of different types of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type, making up approximately 70% of all diagnosed dementias. Other types exist, such as multi-infarct dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and Lewy body dementia. A more detailed description of some types of dementia is included in an ASHA Leader article by Danielle Ripich and Jennifer Horner.

Learn more information about the different types of dementia.

The ASHA Leader articles

• The Neurodegenerative Dementias: Diagnoses and Intervention
• Subtypes of Neurodegenerative Dementias
• Assessment and Treatment of Cognitivie-Communication Disorders in Individuals With Dementia
• Long-Term Care Residents With Dementia
• Dysphagia and Dementia
• Medication-Related Issues Associated with the Mangagement of Dementia

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See Also:

Dementia

Dementia: Benefits of Speech-Language Pathology Services