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If It's Not Alzheimer's...
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Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is widely
considered the second most
common type of dementia. It
develops when impaired blood
flow to parts of the brain deprives
cells of food and oxygen.
The diagnosis may be clearest
when symptoms appear soon after
a single major stroke blocks a large
blood vessel and disrupts the blood
supply to a significant portion of the
brain. This situation is sometimes
called “post-stroke dementia.”
There is also a form in which
a series of very small strokes, or
infarcts, block small blood vessels.
Individually, these strokes do not
cause major symptoms, but over
time their combined effect becomes
noticeable. This type used to be
called “multi-infarct dementia.”
Symptoms of vascular dementia
can vary, depending on the specific
brain areas deprived of blood.
Impairment may occur in “steps,”
where there is a fairly sudden,
noticeable change in function,
rather than the slow, steady decline
usually seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
The person may have a past
history of heart attacks. High blood
pressure, high cholesterol, hardening
of the arteries, diabetes, or other
risk factors for heart disease are
often present.
Symptoms
-
Memory problems may or may not be a prominent symptom, depending
on whether brain regions important in memory are affected.
- Confusion, which may get worse at night.
- Difficulty concentrating, planning, communicating and following instructions.
- Reduced ability to carry out daily activities.
- Physical symptoms associated with strokes, such as sudden weakness,
difficulty speaking or confusion.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain may show characteristic
abnormalities associated with vascular damage.
Treatment
-
Because vascular dementia is closely tied to diseases of the heart and blood
vessels, many experts consider it the most potentially treatable form.
- Monitoring of blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol should
begin early in life. Managing these risk factors, avoiding smoking and
excess alcohol, and treating underlying diseases of the heart and blood vessels
could play a major role in preventing later cognitive decline for many individuals.
In some cases, active management of these factors in older adults
who develop vascular dementia may help symptoms from getting worse.
- No drugs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
to treat vascular dementia.
More Information
-
Alzheimer’s Society, United Kingdom: Vascular Dementia
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Vascular dementia resources from the UK Alzheimer’s Society, including an
information sheet on “What is vascular dementia?” and an 18-page booklet
on “Understanding vascular dementia.”
- Medline Plus: Multi-Infarct Dementia
www.nlm.nih.gov/medline
Medline Plus is a consumer health information service of the U.S. National
Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health (NIH). This Medline
Plus encyclopedia article provides basic information about symptoms,
causes and treatment of the disorder.
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