Are vascular dementia and alzheimer's essentially the same disease?

No: Alzheimer's dementia is characterized by plaques within the brain cortex. Vascular dementia is because a blood vessel is clogged resulting in decreased blood flow to an area of the brain and the damage to that area of the brain.

No: Vascular or multi-infarct dementia and alzheimer's are distinct disorders. Vascular dementia is due to blockage of blood vessels supplying the brain. The blood vessels are generally not affected in alzheimer's, though as alzheimer's occurs in old people, they may have co-exiting atherosclerosis.

No!: Vascular dementia is a problem with the blood vessels in the brain that cause brain cell death. Alzheimer's is caused by the development of plaques in the brain.