Information On Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is a form of dementia that occurs when parts of the vascular system, such as small blood vessels in the brain, are blocked by blood clots or fatty deposits, causing parts of the brain to be damaged by lack of blood. Multi-infarc means that multiple areas in the brain have been impacted.Vascular dementia is a general term for thinking impairment resulting from disruptions in the brain’s blood supply to cells involved with memory, reasoning, and emotion. The most frequently diagnosed type of vascular dementia is multi-infarct dementia, in which a series of small strokes block small ateries.
Causes of vascular dementia
Vascular dementia can be caused in several different ways. Most commonly there is a blockage of small blood vessels somewhere in the vast system of arteries that feeds the brain and enters through the base of the skull. Blockages may be caused by plaque build up on the inside of the artery wall, or by blood clots which have broken loose and clogged a tributary further downstream. Clots can form as a result of abnormal heart rhythms, or other heart abnormalities.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
The onset of vascular dementia often goes unnoticed in the early stages, particularly when the first strokes that eventually lead to dementia are very minor. Sometimes, symptoms such as cognitive and intellectual impairment and difficulty carrying out everyday tasks may become apparent only in the mid-to-late-stages of vascular dementia.
Vascular Dementia Diagnosis
Vascular dementia is diagnosed based on history, symptoms, signs, and tests, and by ruling out other causes of dementia, including dementia due to metabolic causes. History may include a history of stroke or hypertension. History of the dementia often shows stepwise progression of the condition: periods of abrupt decline alternating with “plateau” periods of minimal decline. Other characteristics that suggest multi-infarct dementia rather than Alzheimer’s disease include: abrupt onset, somatic (physical) complaints, emotional changes, and focal.
Treatment
Currently, there is no treatment available that can repair the effects of vascular dementia (VaD). Treatment approaches are aimed at preventing and controlling major risk factors, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and alcoholism. For instance, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol can be effectively treated with a combination of medicine, regular exercise and a healthy diet. Evidence suggests that treating these conditions greatly reduces the risk of developing dementia.
Four drugs (Aricept, Reminyl, Exelon and Ebixa) are available to treat the symptoms of dementia but they are currently licensed for use only for Alzheimer’s disease. There is some evidence that they may help people with vascular dementia, particularly if they also have Alzheimer’s disease.
