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   DEMENTIA   
   Vascular Dementia   
      
   Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia in older people.   
   Because it has a lower profile than Alzheimer's, many people don't suspect   
   vascular dementia when forgetfulness becomes problematic. It's also difficult   
   to diagnose so it's    
   difficult to know exactly how many people suffer from vascular dementia.   
   Current estimates attribute 15% to 20% of dementia cases in older adults to   
   vascular dementia.   
      
   Determining the root cause can help determine the best action plan. If it's   
   vascular dementia, certain lifestyle changes can help prevent further damage.   
   WebMD takes a look at vascular dementia, its causes, symptoms, and prognosis.   
      
   What Is Vascular Dementia?   
   Compared to Alzheimer's disease, which happens when the brain's nerve cells   
   break down, vascular dementia happens when part of the brain doesn't get   
   enough blood carrying the oxygen and nutrients it needs.   
      
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   Though they happen in different ways, it is possible to have both vascular   
   dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Discouraging as this sounds, there is ample   
   reason to control the risk factors that contribute to vascular dementia.   
   Allowing the condition to    
   run its course without intervention can make Alzheimer's disease worse.   
      
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   What Causes Vascular Dementia?   
   Vascular dementia occurs when vessels that supply blood to the brain become   
   blocked or narrowed. Strokes take place when the supply of blood carrying   
   oxygen to the brain is suddenly cut off. However, not all people with stroke   
   will develop vascular    
   dementia.   
      
   Vascular dementia can occur over time as "silent" strokes pile up. Quite   
   often, vascular dementia draws attention to itself only when the impact of so   
   many strokes adds up to significant disability. Avoiding and controlling risk   
   factors such as diabetes,    
   high blood pressure, smoking, and high cholesterol can help curb the risk of   
   vascular dementia.   
      
   Catching the condition early also helps limit the impact and severity of   
   vascular dementia. Early detection requires an awareness of risk factors and,   
   more importantly, efforts to keep them under control. Anyone who suspects   
   vascular dementia should talk    
   with his or her doctor.   
      
   Symptoms of Vascular Dementia   
   Symptoms of vascular dementia depend on what part of the brain is affected and   
   to what extent. Like Alzheimer's disease, the symptoms of vascular dementia   
   are often mild for a long time. They may include:   
      
   Problems with short-term memory   
   Wandering or getting lost in familiar surroundings   
   Laughing or crying at inappropriate times   
   Trouble concentrating, planning, or following through on activities   
   Trouble managing money   
   Inability to follow instructions   
   Loss of bladder or bowel control   
   Hallucinations or delusions   
   Symptoms that suddenly get worse often signal a stroke. Doctors look for   
   symptoms that progress in noticeable stages to diagnose vascular dementia.   
   Alzheimer's, by comparison, progresses at a slow, steady pace. Another clue is   
   impaired coordination or    
   balance. In vascular dementia, problems walking or balancing can happen early.   
   With Alzheimer's, these symptoms usually occur late in the disease.   
      
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   Who Is at Risk for Vascular Dementia?   
   Some risk factors for vascular dementia can be managed; others, like age and   
   gender, cannot. Among all factors, high blood pressure carries the greatest   
   risk; vascular dementia almost never occurs without it.   
      
   Likewise, a high risk of stroke goes hand in hand with risk for vascular   
   dementia. One-quarter to one-third of strokes are thought to result in some   
   degree of dementia. People who smoke, consume excessive amounts of alcohol,   
   have diabetes, or heart    
   disease also have a higher rate of the condition.   
      
   Vascular dementia most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 60 and   
   75. Men seem to be more vulnerable than women, and the condition affects   
   African-Americans more often than other races. People whose age, sex, or race   
   puts them at increased risk    
   of vascular dementia have that much more reason to manage risk factors within   
   their control.   
      
   Vascular Dementia Treatment   
   Currently, no available treatments can repair the damage of vascular dementia   
   once it's happened. Nonetheless, diagnosis provides important knowledge and   
   the opportunity to prevent further damage.   
      
   Prevention typically involves bringing high blood pressure under control   
   through exercise, diet, and medication. The same goes for diabetes if it   
   exists. Patients should stop smoking and curb the use of alcohol.   
      
   Though medical options are limited, behavioral interventions such as cues and   
   reminders can improve the quality of life for everyone involved. Family   
   members and friends can place notes in visible locations around the house with   
   daily plans and    
   instructions for how to use basic items. Stepping up communication, reminding   
   the person with vascular dementia what day it is, where they live, and what is   
   going on in the family, can help keep them connected to the here and now.   
      
   Prognosis for People With Vascular Dementia   
   If the conditions that cause vascular dementia go untreated, the prognosis is   
   not good. A person with vascular dementia may seem to improve for periods of   
   time until another stroke takes away more brain function, memory, and   
   independence. Eventually,    
   untreated vascular dementia usually ends in death from stroke, heart disease,   
   or infection.   
      
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   Although vascular dementia is a serious condition, catching it early and   
   preventing further damage are the best medicine. People with vascular dementia   
   can work with their doctors and families to detect and manage the condition.   
      
   WebMD Medical Reference   
   View Article Sources   
   Reviewed by Richard Senelick, MD on October 01, 2014   
   © 2014 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.   
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