Vascular Dementia

by Jennifer Babb, Family Nurse Practitioner

VASCULAR DEMENTIA: A Thief of the Mind "Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." - Author Unknown

What is Vascular Dementia?

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, generally affecting people between 60 – 75 years of age and men more than women.It is a degenerative disease of the vascular portions of the brain and occurs when the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain is interrupted by blocked or diseased blood vessels, blood clots, small strokes or bleeding in the brain.This condition affects an individual's ability to remember things past and present and can impair his/her judgment, speech, attention span, and activities of daily living.

What are the Symptoms?

Symptoms vary from person to person and in severity, but include any or all of the following:

• Lapses in memory/forgetfulness
• Speech problems
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Personality changes
• Wandering
• Loss of bowel or bladder function
• Problems handling money/finances
• Difficulty sleeping
• Depression/anxiety
• Laughing or crying inappropriately
• Shuffling/jerky gait
• Eating problems
• Difficulty moving certain parts of the body

How is it diagnosed?

The person's emotional and physical health history reveals a lot of information helpful in diagnosing vascular dementia.The physician performs various examinations and may order diagnostic imaging tests to help diagnose the condition.There are many risk factors that give the physician clues to the diagnosis, such as:

• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking history
• Previous strokes or TIA's
• Heart disease/other vascular diseases
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Age/family history

What is the Treatment and Prognosis?

No cure or treatment is currently available, however further damage can be prevented by medications that improve blood circulation, therapy to improve and help stimulate normal movement and speech patterns, smoking cessation, maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and aggressively treating and controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Progression of the disease is dependent on the number, severity and control of the underlying vascular risk factors.Education, lifestyle changes, and adequate medical attention, and other necessary life adjustments can change the course of vascular dementia.Consult with your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Jennifer Babb is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Hardtner Medical Center in Olla.  For more information about Hardtner Medical Center, visit their Personal Profile.

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