What is vascular dementia?

Question

Please describe what vascular dementia is?

Answer 1

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

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Answer 2

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.

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Answer 3

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.

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Answer 4

Can include more but: The symptoms include significant difficulty learning new information or recalling previously learned information. In addition, they can have problems with language, problems moving, difficulty recognizing or naming objects, and all sorts of problems with what is called "executive functioning" (planning, organizing, etc.). All these changes represent a big decline from previous functioning.

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Answer 5

Step down process: Vascular dementia is caused by poor circulation to parts of the brain caused by ongoing "mini-strokes" that occur. Alzheimer's dementia is a chronic gradual decline, whereas vascular dementia can have sudden decreases in physical and cognitive functioning. Like walking down the stairs. They may be stable, sharp decline, stable, sharp decline etc.

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Answer 6

Lots of contributors: Hypertension, heart disease and diabetes are medical illnesses which contribute. Certainly lifestyle issues such as smoking and alchol can contribute. Vascular dementia can involve lareger strokes with obvious immediate changes, or microvascular changes or "mini-strokes" which can cause increased impairment usually in memory and executive functions over time.

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Answer 7

Damage to blood flow: The vascular system supplies the brain with oxygen and nutrients through the blood system or vasculature. When the vasculature system is negatively impacted it can lead to cell death and if enough damage occurs then one deveops vascular dementia.

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Answer 8

Lots: Here's a source you can dig into: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vascular_dementia Function loss often appears suddenly following a stroke or TIA. It can then stay stable or even improve a bit until another TIA brings more losses. The location in the brain is reflected in the loss seen. Read here and ask your Dr for more info. Best!

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Answer 9

Variable picture: Vascular dementia is the result of pathological changes in the blood vessels of the brain that leads to decrease or total interruption blood supply to parts of the brain. The sufferer may never have a stroke or tia. The deficits are usually due to changes in small vessels. The symptoms and progression are variable. Prevention depends on managing vascular risk factors. Hope this helps.

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Answer 10

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.

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Answer 11

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.

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Answer 12

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

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Answer 13

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

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Answer 14

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".

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Answer 15

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.

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What is vascular dementia?

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