Dementias

Dementia is a term for symptoms that occur when a person experiences a decline in cognitive abilities. The decline in thinking, reasoning and remembering is severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health provides compassionate dementia care tailored to your needs. We arrange the services you need to live the best possible quality of life. 

We are among the few programs in the region with a behavioral neurologist specializing in dementia. They work alongside neuropsychologists to confirm or rule out the diagnosis in fewer visits. Our team of specialists delivers compassionate, individualized and evidence-based care. Find out more about our memory wellness services.

There are many types of dementia. Some of the more common ones include: 

• Alzheimer's disease: Alzheimer’s occurs when certain proteins damage nerve cells in the brain, eventually causing them to die. 
• Frontotemporal dementia: This type of dementia happens when different proteins damage nerve cells in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain. 
• Lewy body dementia: This condition occurs when protein deposits called Lewy bodies develop in the brain's nerve cells.
• Parkinson’s disease dementia: This dementia type occurs in some people a year or more after diagnosis. It’s thought to be caused by Lewy bodies. 
• Vascular dementia: Vascular dementia results from a disruption of blood flow to the brain, typically from multiple strokes.

Dementia symptoms include changes in:

• Decision-making: Examples include paying less attention to personal hygiene or not recognizing safety hazards. 
• Memory: You may not be able to remember important dates or repeatedly ask the same question.
• Mood or personality: You may become easily upset and have difficulty letting these feelings pass.
• Problem-solving abilities: Examples include the inability to follow a recipe or basic verbal instructions. 
• Sense of time: You may have difficulty understanding what day, season or year it is.

The two essential components of a dementia evaluation are assessments from our:

• Behavioral neurologist: Behavioral neurologists guide you through tests evaluating memory, communication, problem-solving and visual and spatial skills.
• Neuropsychologist: A neuropsychologist specializes in determining how neurological disorders impact behavior and cognition. They guide you through a series of tests that evaluate various aspects of thinking and memory.

Additional tests are optional but help us make a more precise diagnosis. They include: 

• Blood tests: Blood tests enable us to rule out other possible causes of dementia-like symptoms.
• Brain MRI: A brain MRI shows physical changes in the brain that are sometimes due to issues like a stroke or brain tumor. It also shows signs of certain dementias, such as Alzheimer’s.
• Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan: This type of scan provides insights into how different parts of the brain function.
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap): We take a sample of the fluid surrounding the spinal cord to check for proteins that are found in certain types of dementia.

We discuss therapy options and the many ways our team supports you and your family. Your personalized dementia treatment plan may include: 

• Medications: Some slow disease progression, while others help with specific symptoms, like agitation and depression.
• Neurorehabilitation: Physical, occupational and speech therapists optimize your safety and independence. 
• Lifestyle changes: These include eating a balanced diet, getting good quality sleep and being physically active.  
• Referrals: Seeing other Virginia Mason Franciscan Health specialists can help you get relief from conditions that are common in people with dementia. We may refer you to sleep medicine doctors, cardiologists, psychiatrists or other specialists.

At your appointment, we take time to explain what’s happening and address all your concerns. For additional information, read our memory disorder FAQs.

Our specialists care for patients across the Puget Sound area and beyond. Find a dementia specialist near you.