StageMost people with mild Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease
A neurological disease that affects memory and behaviour. It is characterized by beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. There is no known cause but genetics and lifestyle are thought to play a role. are usually safe, with the exception of some who are unsafe drivers. People with even mild frontotemporal dementia Frontotemporal dementia
A type of dementia that mainly affects the frontal lobe causing a problem in executive function tasks. characteristically have poor judgment, and are prone to unsafe actions. Some people with vascular Vascular
Relating to blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body. dementia are unsafe at the mild stage, usually reflecting early involvement (for example, by a stroke Stroke
Blood supply to the brain is interrupted, usually by a blood clot. As a result, a portion of the brain can die from not receiving enough blood and oxygen.
) of the front part of the brain, or the connections (the 'white mater') between the front part of the brain and the rest of the brain.
Most people with dementia become more prone to unsafe actions as the dementia progresses, especially actions that require memory Memory
The ability to process information that requires attention, storage, and retrieval. (e.g. leaving the kettle to boil on the stove) visuospatial functioning (driving, working with power tools) or having good social judgment (e.g. letting a stranger in the home).
