Dementia From Other Causes

Toxin exposure 

• Toxin exposure may affect the brain cell mitochondria, the power packs of the cell, or disrupt normal chemicals that transmit signals between brain cells. 

• Dementia is caused by long term exposure to toxins because of one’s occupation or military service. 

• • Heavy metals including lead and mercury 

• • Pesticides including Agent Orange 

• • Solvents 

• • Flame retardants 

• The symptoms and progression of dementia often do not follow typical patterns found in Alzheimer’s disease until the later stages. 

 

Brain Injuries 

• Concussions and repeated head impacts can lead to dementia. 

• • Chronic traumatic encephalopathy results from repeated head injuries and is often associated with football and boxing. 

• • Traumatic brain injury results from a blow to the head that causes unconsciousness. 

 

Infections 

• Several infections have been linked to accelerated shrinking of the brain and dementia later in life. 

• • Lyme disease 

• • Syphilis 

• • HIV 

• • Herpes 

• • Gum disease 

 

CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD) 

• This is a rare cause of dementia, affecting 1-2 people per one million each year. 

• Causes 

• • Prions, an infective form of a protein caused by an abnormal folding, affect surrounding nerve cells which then replicate throughout the brain tissue. 

• • Variant CJD can be obtained from exposure to infected material such as contaminated meat or medical instruments. 

• It is called a spongiform disease because the brain develops holes like a sponge. 

• Specialized blood tests and brain scans are needed to diagnose CJD. 

• The disease progresses rapidly and is fatal within 3 to 12 months.