what is mixed dementia

Mixed dementia is a condition in which a person has more than one type of dementia. The most common type of mixed dementia is a combination of Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia. Other combinations of dementias are also possible, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. A person living with mixed dementia will show symptoms of at least two different types of dementia. The symptoms of mixed dementia can vary depending on the types of dementia a person has, and often someone will have a greater amount of one type of dementia than another. In many cases, symptoms may be similar to or even indistinguishable from those of Alzheimers or another type of dementia. The symptoms of some other diseases can mimic those of dementia, so a person should not assume that any memory loss or change in the ability to think is a result of dementia. Managing the effects of mixed dementia involves treating the symptoms of each type of dementia present. If the person has two types of dementia, the symptoms can be more noticeable and appear to progress more rapidly.