GeneralWhat is Vascular Dementia?

Vascular dementia, also referred to as multi-infarct dementia, sits second on the list of the most common causes of dementia in seniors. Due to it having a more quiet profile than Alzheimer’s, a lot of people don’t think of vascular dementia when the problem of forgetfulness becomes more serious. It is hard to diagnose. That’s why it’s quite difficult to ascertain the number of people suffering from vascular dementia.

Finding out the major cause can be helpful in determining the best plan to take. If it’s actually vascular dementia, there are some lifestyle changes you can take to prevent more damage along the line.

Symptoms of vascular dementia

These symptoms will depend on the part of your brain that is affected. As for the extent of the symptoms, this will majorly depend on the length of time your brain stayed without blood and oxygen.

There are some symptoms that will overlap with other kinds of dementia. Also, some symptoms are hard to notice. Unlike most types of dementia, this type doesn’t usually have a normal progression. It can suddenly occur, or it can begin slowly. However, it generally progresses in steps. They can be classified into:

1. Early-stage: A diagnosis during this stage is quite hard because of the mild symptoms. However, there’s an awareness of some loss of memory and mental capability.
2. Middle stage: Those mild symptoms will start to become more noticeable in this stage.
3. Late-stage: There are usually dramatic changes in the physical and cognitive symptoms. This stage often occurs after a serious event like a stroke.

Causes of vascular dementia

This is as a result of blockage or narrowing of the blood vessels that are meant to supply blood to the brain. This reduction in blood flow will deprive the brain of oxygen – which could end up rapidly damaging the brain.

A lot of conditions can lead to blood flow reduction in your brain. Some of them include:

• Diabetes.
• Heart attack.
• High blood pressure.
• Stroke.
• Blood clot or aneurysm.

Of these, the most common cause is stroke.

Risk factors for vascular dementia

These risk factors include:

• Advancing age.
• Cigarette smoking.
• High blood pressure.
• Obesity.
• Diabetes.
• High cholesterol.
• Atrial fibrillation.
• High homocysteine levels.
• Lack of exercise.
• Oral birth control medications.
• Blood clot conditions.

How can vascular dementia be treated?

It should be noted that there’s no cure for vascular dementia. However, the underlying conditions affecting blood flow can be treated with a vascular dementia care plan. This will help to reduce the risk of more damage to the brain. These treatments include:

• Medication to manage cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, triglycerides, and blood clotting problems.
• Changes in lifestyle such as eating healthy, engaging in exercise, quitting smoking, or reducing the consumption of alcohol.
• Procedures to enhance the flow of blood to the brain. These include angioplasty, stenting, and carotid endarterectomy. The carotid arteries can be found in the neck.
• Medication such as cholinesterase inhibitors which will treat dementia symptoms – or antidepressants which will help with depression and other symptoms.