How does Vascular Dementia differ from Alzheimers?
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s and is caused by problems in blood supply to the brain.
Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed the disease progresses varies from person to person.
Symptoms of Vascular dementia often develop suddenly following a stroke and follow a stepped progression with symptoms remaining the same for a while and then a rapid decline.
Symptoms of vascular dementia include
- A difficulty communicating, concentration and speed of thought.
- Depression and anxiety
- Stroke symptoms such as physical weakness
- Seizures
- Acute confusion
- Visual confusion, seeing objects as other items and not as they are.
- Changes in behaviour such as agitated.
- Difficulty walking
- Hallucinations
- Loss of continence
How does vascular dementia develop?
- To be healthy and function properly, brain cells need a good supply of blood.
Blood is delivered through a network of blood vessels called the vascular system. If the vascular system in the brain becomes damaged and blood cannot reach the cells, they will eventually die. This can lead to the onset of vascular dementia.
A number of conditions can cause or increase damage to the vascular system. These include high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol and diabetes.
This means it is important that these conditions are identified and treated at the earliest opportunity. Effective treatment of these conditions may significantly delay or stop the development of vascular dementia.
