Mixed dementia

Mixed dementia has characteristics of both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Many experts believe mixed dementia is more common than previously thought. It becomes increasingly common with age. This belief is based on brain autopsies showing up to 45 percent of people with dementia have signs of both Alzheimer's and vascular disease.

The concept of mixed dementia is clinically important because the combination of the two diseases may have a greater impact on the brain than either by itself.

Symptoms

• May follow a pattern similar to either Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia or a combination of the two.
• Some experts recommend suspecting mixed dementia whenever a person has both evidence of cardiovascular disease and dementia symptoms that get worse slowly.

Treatment

Maintaining a lifelong heart-healthy lifestyle could help prevent mixed dementia. It may also help delay or prevent progression of symptoms in older adults.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org