Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is a degenerative cerebrovascular disease that leads to a progressive decline in memory and cognitive functioning. It occurs when the blood supply carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is interrupted by a blocked or diseased vascular system.

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 they will eventually die. This can lead to the onset of vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

 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.

 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)

‘Wandering’ and getting lost

Physical or verbal aggression

Restlessness

Incontinence.

 There are two main types of vascular dementia: one caused by stroke and one caused by small vessel disease. For many people, however, the causes of dementia may be mixed.

Certain factors can increase a person’s risk of developing dementia.

These include:

A medical history of stroke,

high blood pressure,

 high cholesterol,

 diabetes (particularly type II),

heart problems,

or sleep apnea (where breathing stops during sleep)

A lack of physical activity,

drinking more than recommended levels of alcohol,

smoking,

eating a fatty diet,

 leaving conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes untreated.

A family history of stroke or vascular dementia.

Gender – men are slightly more likely to develop vascular dementia.

An Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan or African Caribbean ethnic background.