Vascular DementiaVascular dementia, also known as vascular cognitive impairment, is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. Vascular disease is caused by problems with the brains blood supply. In order to be healthy and function properly, the cells in the brain need a good supply of blood. For the brain to receive this blood, it is delivered to the brain through small vessels which make up the vascular system. If the system that delivers blood to the brain becomes damaged or has trouble transporting blood to the brain, the cells will not receive the blood they need to survive and will die. This can lead to early onset of vascular dementia.
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Signs and Symptoms
Vascular dementia affects people in different ways along with the speed of progression being different for each individual. The symptoms of vascular dementia can begin suddenly, for example after a stroke and may begin at a constant level for a period of time then suddenly deteriorate. Some symptoms include:
- Problem with speed thinking, concentration, communication
- Depression, anxiety
- Stroke, physical weakness or paralysis
- Memory problems
- Seizures
- Sever or acute confusion
- Visual mistakes, misperception (ex. Seeing a rug as a pond)
- Behavioural changes (ex. Restlessness)
- Difficulty walking, unsteadiness
- Hallucinations, delusions
- Problems with continence
- Psychological symptoms (ex. Obsessiveness)
- Problem with speed thinking, concentration, communication
- Depression, anxiety
- Stroke, physical weakness or paralysis
- Memory problems
- Seizures
- Sever or acute confusion
- Visual mistakes, misperception (ex. Seeing a rug as a pond)
- Behavioural changes (ex. Restlessness)
- Difficulty walking, unsteadiness
- Hallucinations, delusions
- Problems with continence
- Psychological symptoms (ex. Obsessiveness)
Treatment Options
Treatments for vascular dementia can delay the conditions rather than stimulate repair and recovery. There has been s study done to see if hyperbaric oxygen can improve help the state of vascular dementia. This study saw neurogenesis stimulation and neural stem cell treatment as a potential trial for treatments for vascular disease which contributed to neural functional recovery. They study was conducted on rats, and they concluded that hyperbaric oxygen treatment can significantly improve the learning and memory ability of rats with vascular dementia. ( Zhang et al. , 2010) This survey shows us that research is being done to develop a way to treat this form of dementia; however there is no study that shows results of curing the disease for a patient, only delaying the conditions. Other, more commonly used treatments are medications to treat underling conditions such as high blood pressure, adopting a healthier life style and diet and finally receiving rehabilitative support.
Coping
Loved ones of individuals who are dealing with vascular disease can have a hard time dealing and coping with the changes the individual is facing. One way to help with the emotions they are feeling is contacting the Alzheimer’s society National Dementia help line which can provide information, support, guidance and signposting’s to other organizations to help with the coping process.
More Info.
3 types of vascular dementia:
- Stroke- related dementia is caused by blood supply to brain being cut off causing permanent damage to brain. The most common type of vascular dementia is called multi-infarct dementia which is caused by s series of small strokes
- Sub-cortical vascular dementia (Small vessel disease or Binswanger’s disease) caused by damage to tiny blood vessels that lie deep within the brain
- Mixed dementia(vascular and Alzheimer’s dementia) this form of dementia means that Alzheimer’s disease as well as stroke or small vessel disease may have caused damage to the brain