Vascular dementia results from impaired blood flow to the brain.
Between 5% and 10% of people over the age of 65 in developed countries have vascular dementia.
This article gives an overview of the symptoms, causes, and outlook of vascular dementia.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Interestingly,memory lossusually occurs later in vascular dementiacompared to Alzheimer’s disease.
On the other hand, memory problems andbehavioral symptomsare commonly the first issues noticed in Alzheimer’s.
Additionally, vascular dementia often progresses in a stepwise fashion.
Alzheimer’s disease typically progresses in a more gradual, downward fashion.
In addition, vascular dementia often results from several small strokes that occur over time.
It can also occur after a single majorstroke, which is sometimes referred to as “post-stroke dementia.”
If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of dementia, talk with a primary care provider first.
They’ll assess your symptoms, medical history, medications, and cardiovascular risk factors.
They’ll likely give youtests to assess your memory and thinking skills.
They may also order blood tests to look for other conditions that may be responsible for your symptoms.
Based on those results, they may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation.
Managing cardiovascular problems through medication and/or lifestyle changes may also help slow the worsening of vascular dementia symptoms.
Behavior managementstrategies are also useful for handling the challenging behaviors that sometimes accompany vascular dementia.
Though there is no cure, there are treatment options and ways to manage.
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