Vascular dementia

VASCULAR DEMENTIA

Type: Disease

What is vascular dementia?

Vascular dementia is a disorder that is triggered when the blood supply to the brain is reduced.

There are two types of vascular dementia:

  • Multi-infarct dementia, which is caused by blockage of blood vessels in the brain due to the presence of blood clots.
  • Single-infarct dementia, which, depending on the strategic area of the brain in which it occurs, causes different disorders: aphasia (a disorder of loss or alteration of language that causes difficulties in speech and linguistic comprehension) and apraxia (a decrease in the ability to perform certain movements).

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of vascular dementia may appear gradually or progress after a small stroke. Preliminary symptoms of dementia are:

  • Difficulty performing easy tasks such as carrying money in a wallet, participating in games, or learning new information
  • Getting lost on common routes
  • Language problems
  • Change in mood
  • Loss of social skills

As dementia worsens, symptoms become more obvious and the ability to care for oneself decreases. Some of the symptoms include:

  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Difficulty performing basic tasks such as cooking, choosing appropriate clothing or driving
  • Forgetting facts and details of personal life
  • Suffering from depression
  • Difficulty reading or writing
  • Using the wrong word
  • Having hallucinations or violent behavior

Causes of vascular dementia or why it occurs

It is caused by a series of small strokes over a long period of time. It is usually caused by an embolism or stroke, as well as by vascular lesions (malformations in the blood vessels). Therefore, urgent attention to the patient is essential to prevent further complications.

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Can it be prevented?

To prevent vascular dementia, it is important to avoid certain factors that may promote or increase the risk of vascular dementia, such as hypertension, diabetes or smoking.

What is the treatment?

Depending on the type of vascular dementia of the patient, the treatment will be different and personalized. It is important to note that there is no treatment to repair the damage to the brain caused by small strokes.

The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and correct possible risk factors to prevent future strokes.