What is vascular dementia?

 Vascular dementia is a type of dementia that is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, which damages and eventually kills brain cells

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. This is usually due to a narrowing of the small blood vessels deep inside the brain, known as subcortical vascular dementia or small vessel disease, a stroke, or lots of "mini strokes" that cause tiny but widespread damage to the brain, known as multi-infarct dementia

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. Some people with vascular dementia also have brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease, which is known as mixed dementia

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. Things that can increase your chances of getting vascular dementia in later life include high blood pressure, smoking, an unhealthy diet, high blood cholesterol, lack of exercise, and age

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.The symptoms of vascular dementia can start suddenly or gradually and tend to get worse over time, although treatment can help slow this down

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. Early signs of vascular dementia can include mild slowness of thought, difficulty with planning, trouble with understanding, problems with concentration, changes to mood or behavior, and problems with memory and language

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. In the middle stages of dementia, a person may advance to more severe personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, depression, difficulty finding the right words, and increasing difficulty with daily activities

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.The course of vascular dementia tends to get worse over time, although it's sometimes possible to slow it down

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. The stages of vascular dementia are usually divided into seven stages, ranging from normal behavior to severe decline

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.Treatment can help prevent further damage to the brain in people with vascular dementia and may slow down its progression

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. However, there's currently no cure for the condition or a way to reverse the damage that's already happened

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. Before treatment starts, your current and future health and social care needs will be assessed, and a care plan will be created

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. A care plan identifies areas where you may need help, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet, losing weight if you're overweight, stopping smoking, getting fit, cutting down on alcohol, and taking medicines to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Alzheimer's disease

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. An antipsychotic medicine, such as haloperidol or risperidone, may sometimes be given to people showing persistent aggression or extreme distress where there's

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.Controlling conditions that affect the underlying health of your heart and blood vessels can sometimes slow the rate at which vascular dementia gets worse and may also sometimes prevent further decline

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. Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may prescribe medications to lower your blood pressure, reduce your cholesterol level, prevent your blood from clotting and keep your arteries clear, and help control your blood sugar if you have diabetes

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. Participating in regular physical activity, eating healthy, maintaining a normal weight, and engaging in social activities are also recommended

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Citations:

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vascular-dementia/causes/

[2] https://thekensingtonwhiteplains.com/what-are-the-7-stages-of-vascular-dementia/

[3] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vascular-dementia/treatment/

[4] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vascular-dementia/symptoms/

[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vascular-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378793

[6] https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/vascular-dementia

[7] https://www.webmd.com/stroke/vascular-dementia

[8] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vascular-dementia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20378798

[9] https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/symptoms-vascular-dementia

[10] https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/vascular-dementia

[11] https://www.alzheimers.gov/alzheimers-dementias/vascular-dementia

[12] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vascular-dementia/

[13] https://www.stroke.org.uk/effects-of-stroke/vascular-dementia/treatments

[14] https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/vascular-dementia

[15] https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/vascular-dementia

[16] https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/vascular-dementia-your-questions-answered

[17] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22216-vascular-dementia

[18] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/dementia/vascular-dementia