A psychologist has clarified the actual definition of ‘mixed dementia’ while addressing a widespread misunderstanding.
Dr. Kelynn Lee, chief executive of the Dementia Care Hub and a dedicated researcher specializing in cognitive decline, recently used his TikTok account to answer a follower’s question.
The follower had recently discovered that their mother had been diagnosed with mixed dementia, although they assumed this simply meant doctors were unsure of the exact type of dementia. Dr. Lee insisted that this was a misconception.
According to the Express, she said in a video: “No. So mixed dementia is when someone has more than one type of dementia. OK, so instead of just having Alzheimer’s disease, they will have Alzheimer’s disease plus vascular dementia, as an example.”
“That’s probably the most typical when we talk about mixed forms of dementia. So no, it’s not that they’re not sure what it is, but the fact that it’s two types of dementia,” she added.
Dementia serves as an umbrella term that encompasses several conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, each of which is characterized by a progressive decline in brain function.
According to NHS figures, more than 944,000 people in Britain currently suffer from dementia, while the Alzheimer’s Society says mixed dementia affects one in ten people.
Official guidelines from the Alzheimer’s Society add: “Alzheimer’s disease with vascular dementia. This is the most common form of mixed dementia. It is caused by someone developing Alzheimer’s disease and at the same time having diseased or damaged blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.”
“The two different types of diseases combine to make the symptoms worse than they would be on their own.”
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for mixed dementia, but treatments are available to reduce or control its symptoms, which can include confusion, forgetfulness, and speech problems.
