Multi-Infarct Dementia Information Page.This overview from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) on vascular dementia links to more information on clinical trials and related health topics. This article from MedlinePlus lists risk factors for vascular dementia, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, possible complications, and prevention. What Is Vascular Dementia? This article has information about vascular dementia causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and other resources.This booklet from NIA and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) describes different kinds of dementia, including vascular dementia, and summarizes dementia research supported by NIH.
These free resources are a place to start. Learning more about these disorders can help. People with vascular dementia and their family members can face a variety of challenges. Resource list: Vascular dementias and related conditions Living a healthy lifestyle is important to help reduce the risk factors of vascular dementia. Treating modifiable risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and problems with the rhythm of the heartbeat can help prevent additional stroke. Some studies suggest that medications that are used to treat Alzheimer's might benefit some people with an early form of vascular dementia. However, vascular dementia is often managed with medications to prevent strokes and reduce the risk of additional brain damage.
Other abnormalities commonly found in the brains of people with vascular dementia are diseased small blood vessels and changes in "white matter" - the connecting "wires" of the brain that are critical for relaying messages between brain regions. Major strokes can also increase the risk for dementia, but not everyone who has had a stroke will develop dementia. These abnormalities can include evidence of prior strokes, which are often small and sometimes without noticeable symptoms. People with vascular dementia almost always have abnormalities in the brain that can be seen on MRI scans. Vascular dementia is caused by different conditions that interrupt the flow of blood and oxygen supply to the brain and damage blood vessels in the brain. When an individual is diagnosed with vascular dementia, their symptoms can be similar to the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Vascular dementia can occur alone or be a part of a different diagnosis such as Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. Symptoms of vascular dementia can begin gradually or can occur suddenly, and then progress over time, with possible short periods of improvement. Cognition and brain function can be significantly affected by the size, location, and number of vascular changes. Vascular dementia refers to changes to memory, thinking, and behavior resulting from conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain.