vascular dementia -- can you explina how this happens?

Question

Answer 1

Vascular dementia: This problem often happens in people with longstanding hypertension with damage to blood vessels all over their body, not just in their brains. Atherosclerotic plaque builds up and becomes inflamed. There can be blockages in small vessels that nourish the brain, causing small strokes that injure or kill brain tissue. Repeated episodes leads to more and more cognitive and memory loss.

Answer 2

Confusion: It is confusion and loss of memory based on narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain.

Answer 3

Caused by a stroke: Most people think of vascular dementia as memory and other brain impairments leading to dementia caused by one or more large strokes. There is another condition related to chronic small damage to the brain ultimately leading to dementia, this used to be called multi-infarct dementia though this phrase isn't used much anymore.

Answer 4

Vascular dementia: Is a different type of dementia caused by strokes or small vessel disease. This type of dementia causes a stepwise decline rather than a slow progression.

Answer 5

Not much: It is possible to develop or create new circulation, such as unblocking carotid artery, and brains have ways of developing new pathways to compensate, but for the most part we only slow down dementia, not reverse it. Hopefully one day there will be better treatments.

Answer 6

No: Unfortunately, dementia is not reversible. We can slow its progress by physical exercise, doing crosswords, staying socially active, and, with vasc. Dem, taking care of cholesterol and blood pressure issues.

Answer 7

In general no: But if someone has had a recent large strike some function may be regained.

Answer 8

Vascular dementia: Depends on extent & etiology, most cases are reversible.

Answer 9

Complex treatment: Need to prevent further strokes, so should be using anti-platelet drug such as clopidrigrel or aggrenox. The dementia studies have indicated best outcomes using galantamine (galantamine hydrobromide) or donepezil. Reversibility is based on how much damage due to stroke effect has already occurred, as want to avoid "lacunar state".

Answer 10

Possibly: Depending on the level, location, severity of the vascular lesions or cerebral insults, there is a possibility that some sxs will be reversed somewhat or improved; the brain can compensate at times for vascular insults; however, the key element is treating the underlying diseases such as hypertension and weight and removing high risk behaviors such as smoking.

Answer 11

Not specifically.: The best medicine would be to treat the vascular problem as aggressively as possible. So high blood pressure should be well controlled, etc.

Answer 12

Not FDA approved: There are no drugs fda approved for vascular dementia(vad). However, the same drugs used for alzheimers disease are also generally used fpr vad.

Answer 13

That depends on: How severe the underlying cardiovascular disease is. But the "typical" age would be 50 or over.

Answer 14

Vascular dementia: Vascular dementia may overlap with other types of dementia such as alzheimer's, but results from damage to, or blockages in, blood vessels that nourish the brain. This leads to tiny "infarcts" or deaths of nerve cells in the brain. People with hypertension and/or arteriosclerotic narrowing of these blood vessels are vulnerable to such changes, which happen in a stair-step process over time.

Answer 15

Vascular dementia: Is caused by underlying blood vessel (vascular) problems in the brain. And the course of the illness is a stepwise progression rather than a slowly progressive one.

vascular dementia -- can you explina how this happens?

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

Similar questions

What is vascular dementia?

Is vascular dementia reversible?

Are there any drugs specifically for vascular dementia patients?

What is the typical age at which the first signs of vascular dementia appear?

How is vascular dementia different than other types of dementia?

Related questions

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

People also asked

Disclaimer:

Get the free app for Members

Get the free app for Doctors