What is vascular dementia?
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after
Alzheimer's disease. This factsheet will help you to understand
vascular dementia by explaining the causes, symptoms and
treatments available.
What do we mean by 'vascular dementia'?
The term 'dementia' is used to describe the symptoms that occur
when the brain is damaged by specific diseases. These diseases
include Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Someone with
dementia may have difficulties remembering, solving problems or
concentrating. Vascular dementia is a type of dementia caused by
problems in the supply of blood to the brain.
How does it develop?
To be healthy and function properly, the brain cells need a good
supply of blood. The blood is delivered through a network of blood
vessels called the vascular system. If the vascular system within
the brain becomes damaged and blood cannot reach the brain cells,
the cells will eventually die. This can lead to the onset of
vascular dementia.
What causes damage to the vascular system in the brain?
There are a number of conditions that can cause or increase damage
to the vascular system. These include high blood pressure, heart
problems, high cholesterol and diabetes. This means it is
important that these conditions are identified and treated at the
earliest opportunity.
What are the symptoms?
Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and
the speed of the progression varies from person to person. Some
symptoms may be similar to those of other types of dementia.
However, people with vascular dementia may particularly
experience:
problems concentrating and communicating depression accompanying the dementia symptoms of stroke, such as physical weakness or paralysis memory problems (although this may not be the first symptom) a 'stepped' progression, with symptoms remaining at a constant
level and then suddenly deteriorating epileptic seizures periods of acute confusion.
Other symptoms may include:
hallucinations (seeing things that do not exist) delusions (believing things that are not true) walking about and getting lost physical or verbal aggression restlessness incontinence.
How is vascular dementia treated?
Although the brain damage that causes vascular dementia cannot be
reversed, it may be possible to slow the progression of the
disease in a number of ways. These include:
taking medication to treat any underlying conditions, such as
stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or heart
problems adopting a healthier lifestyle by stopping smoking, taking
regular exercise, eating healthily, and drinking alcohol only in
moderation receiving rehabilitative support, such as physiotherapy,
occupational therapy and speech therapy, to help the person maximise their opportunities to regain their lost functions.
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