The guide to
Vascular Dementia
Understanding vascular dementia
Treatment and management
Risk factors and diagnosis
narration
What is vascular dementia?
Vascular dementia is one of the most common forms of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, making up 5 to 10 percent of dementia cases. While Alzheimer's is driven by a build-up of proteins in the brain, vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow.
Read more
narration
What causes vascular dementia?
The brain needs a constant flow of oxygen-rich blood to function properly. Decreased blood supply to the brain leads to damage and death of brain cells.
Common causes of reduced blood flow to the brain include:
Mini-strokes
Narrowed blood vessels
Major strokes
narration
Risk factors for vascular dementia
Risk increases with age, particularly over age 65
Cardiovascular health factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity
Lifestyle factors including smoking, lack of physical exercise, and poor diet.
narration
Vascular dementia vs. Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Vascular dementia
Caused by the abnormal buildup of proteins (amyloid and tau) Alzheimer's typically causes a gradual and steady decline in cognitive function
Caused by blood vessel damage Vascular dementia is more likely to cause physical symptoms (weakness or paralysis) and stepped decline
Both conditions involve cognitive decline, affecting memory, thinking, and decision-making abilities.
narration
Symptoms of vascular dementia
Cognitive changes
Mood and behavior
Difficulty with attention, planning, and problem-solving
Depression, apathy, and personality changes
Memory issues
Physical signs
Trouble with recall, but less severe than in Alzheimer's disease
Slowed movement, weakness, or balance problems
narration
How is vascular dementia diagnosed?
Brain imaging
CT Scan
MRI Scan
An MRI is a type of brain scan that shows doctors things like dead tissue, atrophy, enlarged ventricles, and white matter lesions. These types of scans are essential for diagnosing vascular dementia and distinguishing it from other dementias.
CT scans of the brain can also identify strokes and rule out other causes such as tumors. They allow doctors to confirm a diagnosis like vascular dementia, and to monitor progression and guide prognosis and treatment.
narration
Vascular dementia stages and progression
Vascular dementia leads to various mental and physical challenges. Symptoms may appear abruptly or progressively worsen, but proper care can help manage the condition's advancement.
Late stage
Early stage
Middle stage
Mild symptoms, like slowness of thought, or concentration problems, that may not significantly impact daily life
More severe memory loss plus increased difficulty with cognitive tasks, planning, and self-care
Severe cognitive decline, physical disabilities (frequent falls, loss of bladder control), and need for full-time care
narration
What does vascular dementia feel like?
Gerda Saunders, a former atomic energy research scientist and math teacher who now writes about living with dementia, discusses vascular dementia.
Early symptoms
I lost a lot of my mathematical capability — and I have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. But ordinary things also happened that interrupted my daily life. For example, one Easter, we had the kids and grandkids come to our house. We usually have brunch and I had thought I’d made an Amish casserole the night before. It just had to be baked. The next morning, I set the table and when we sat down at the table, I realized I hadn’t baked this casserole.
Gerda SaundersAuthor, mathematician, teacher
HEAR HER STORY
narration
Living with — and managing — vascular dementia
Strategies for maintaining independence
Medications
Therapies
Safety considerations
Lifestyle modifications
narration
Another patient perspective
Being Patient interviewed Mark and Brenda Roberts about their journey following Mark's diagnosis of early-onset vascular dementia at the age of 62, and the mission of the National Council of Dementia Minds, a nonprofit organization founded and governed by people living with dementia.
Early symptoms
"My job was to multitask. I couldn’t do that anymore... I couldn't remember phone numbers... I had it all on my memory, and that was just falling apart for me. Then, I would say, ‘We've got to remember to go do this,’ and they [would say], ‘We just talked about that, and that’s what we’re going to do.’"
Mark RobertsDiagnosed with early-onset vascular dementia
HEAR THEIR STORY
narration
Want to learn more?
Visit
beingpatient.com
for the latest news and information on brain health and Alzheimer's disease
narration
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Transcript
The guide to
Vascular Dementia
Understanding vascular dementia
Treatment and management
Risk factors and diagnosis
narration
What is vascular dementia?
Vascular dementia is one of the most common forms of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, making up 5 to 10 percent of dementia cases. While Alzheimer's is driven by a build-up of proteins in the brain, vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow.
Read more
narration
What causes vascular dementia?
The brain needs a constant flow of oxygen-rich blood to function properly. Decreased blood supply to the brain leads to damage and death of brain cells.
Common causes of reduced blood flow to the brain include:
Mini-strokes
Narrowed blood vessels
Major strokes
narration
Risk factors for vascular dementia
Risk increases with age, particularly over age 65
Cardiovascular health factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity
Lifestyle factors including smoking, lack of physical exercise, and poor diet.
narration
Vascular dementia vs. Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Vascular dementia
Caused by the abnormal buildup of proteins (amyloid and tau) Alzheimer's typically causes a gradual and steady decline in cognitive function
Caused by blood vessel damage Vascular dementia is more likely to cause physical symptoms (weakness or paralysis) and stepped decline
Both conditions involve cognitive decline, affecting memory, thinking, and decision-making abilities.
narration
Symptoms of vascular dementia
Cognitive changes
Mood and behavior
Difficulty with attention, planning, and problem-solving
Depression, apathy, and personality changes
Memory issues
Physical signs
Trouble with recall, but less severe than in Alzheimer's disease
Slowed movement, weakness, or balance problems
narration
How is vascular dementia diagnosed?
Brain imaging
CT Scan
MRI Scan
An MRI is a type of brain scan that shows doctors things like dead tissue, atrophy, enlarged ventricles, and white matter lesions. These types of scans are essential for diagnosing vascular dementia and distinguishing it from other dementias.
CT scans of the brain can also identify strokes and rule out other causes such as tumors. They allow doctors to confirm a diagnosis like vascular dementia, and to monitor progression and guide prognosis and treatment.
narration
Vascular dementia stages and progression
Vascular dementia leads to various mental and physical challenges. Symptoms may appear abruptly or progressively worsen, but proper care can help manage the condition's advancement.
Late stage
Early stage
Middle stage
Mild symptoms, like slowness of thought, or concentration problems, that may not significantly impact daily life
More severe memory loss plus increased difficulty with cognitive tasks, planning, and self-care
Severe cognitive decline, physical disabilities (frequent falls, loss of bladder control), and need for full-time care
narration
What does vascular dementia feel like?
Gerda Saunders, a former atomic energy research scientist and math teacher who now writes about living with dementia, discusses vascular dementia.
Early symptoms
I lost a lot of my mathematical capability — and I have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. But ordinary things also happened that interrupted my daily life. For example, one Easter, we had the kids and grandkids come to our house. We usually have brunch and I had thought I’d made an Amish casserole the night before. It just had to be baked. The next morning, I set the table and when we sat down at the table, I realized I hadn’t baked this casserole.
Gerda SaundersAuthor, mathematician, teacher
HEAR HER STORY
narration
Living with — and managing — vascular dementia
Strategies for maintaining independence
Medications
Therapies
Safety considerations
Lifestyle modifications
narration
Another patient perspective
Being Patient interviewed Mark and Brenda Roberts about their journey following Mark's diagnosis of early-onset vascular dementia at the age of 62, and the mission of the National Council of Dementia Minds, a nonprofit organization founded and governed by people living with dementia.
Early symptoms
"My job was to multitask. I couldn’t do that anymore... I couldn't remember phone numbers... I had it all on my memory, and that was just falling apart for me. Then, I would say, ‘We've got to remember to go do this,’ and they [would say], ‘We just talked about that, and that’s what we’re going to do.’"
Mark RobertsDiagnosed with early-onset vascular dementia
HEAR THEIR STORY
narration
Want to learn more?
Visit
beingpatient.com
for the latest news and information on brain health and Alzheimer's disease
narration