What causes dementia?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    There is no one cause of dementia. Many different conditions can cause dementia. The most common causes of dementia are neurodegenerative diseases, such as[1]:

    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Vascular dementia
    • Dementia with Lewy bodies
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Frontotemporal lobar degeneration

    Although rare, other conditions may also cause dementia or similar symptoms. Some examples include[2][1]:

    • Vitamin B12 deficiency
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
    • Huntington’s disease
    • Pellagra

    References

    1. ^Gale SA, Acar D, Daffner KRDementia.Am J Med.(2018-10)
    2. ^Ghosh AEndocrine, metabolic, nutritional, and toxic disorders leading to dementia.Ann Indian Acad Neurol.(2010-Dec)