Risk Factors For Vascular Dementia

Risk Factors For Stroke And Vascular Dementia

A stroke occurs when blood clots or broken blood vessels cut off the blood supply to your brain. When blood supply to the brain reduces because of narrowing or blockages in blood vessels, brain cells can be damaged. An intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke, happens when the tissues surrounding the brain fill with blood after an artery bursts. Causes can include blood clots, ruptured blood vessels, or narrowing or hardening of blood vessels that supply the brain. Unlike with an ischemic stroke, if you are having a hemorrhagic stroke, the treatment goal is to make your blood clot. When you have a stroke, the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off, killing brain cells.

Signs Of Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Patients with vascular dementia secondary to small vessel disease have a significant increase in vascular resistance and a decrease in vascular reserve. Patients with vascular dementia have patchy cognitive impairment, often with focal neurologic signs and symptoms. The 3 most common mechanisms of vascular dementia are multiple cortical infarcts, a strategic single infarct, and small vessel disease. Lacunar state is a condition in which numerous lacunae, which indicate widespread severe small vessel disease, are present. Vascular disease of the brain is far from a unitary process, and various vascular syndromes can lead to cognitive impairment and dementia. Mood and behavioral changes are observed early and, in some patients, may be the presenting feature.

Vascular Disease Of The Brain

All patients with dementia should have laboratory testing to rule out reversible causes of dementia. Hypertension may be primary, which may develop as a result of environmental or genetic causes, or secondary, which has multiple etiologies, including renal, vascular, and endocrine causes. Depression frequently coexists with vascular dementia and can contribute to, or worsen, vascular-based cognitive symptoms. Mixed dementia is often indicated by cardiovascular disease and dementia symptoms that get worse slowly over time. Vascular disease of the brain, particularly hypertensive small vessel disease, is a more important factor in producing cognitive impairment and dementia than was previously thought. Treatment for vascular dementia is different for each person, but often involves addressing underlying problems.

The Number Of People Living With Dementia

Caregivers can improve quality of life for people with dementia by knowing the best ways to communicate and having strategies to overcome cognitive or behavioral challenges. When you are unable to concentrate, you cannot think clearly, focus on a task, or maintain your attention. You can learn more about the disease, visit handpicked websites, and find resources to help you in your daily life. Most people have an innate desire to learn, and language is the primary tool for learning. As alcoholic dementia has not been uniformly diagnosed across epidemiologic studies, the discrimination of alcoholic dementia from AD also is problematic. As you will learn below, practicing the right type of oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet and consuming probiotics are some of the best strategies.

People With Type 2 Diabetes

Studies on cognitive enhancing benefits of the herbal in healthy adults and individuals diagnosed with AD are currently ongoing. In a small 1-week RCT, 16 healthy adults randomized to SLT experienced improvements in working memory. Future epidemiological and clinical studies are required to further assess the benefits of herbal medicines for the prevention of dementia and/or VaD. In older adults initially diagnosed with a specific type of dementia, the presence of mixed dementia may only be discovered by autopsy reports. All 4 studies in which herbal medicines were used in conjunction with conventional medicines reported better neurocognitive efficacy outcomes compared to the conventional medicines alone. Treatment for mixed dementia is limited, as patients are often misdiagnosed as having only a single type of dementia, physicians often treat their patients based on that specific type.

Cognitive Symptoms Caused By The Disease

Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed of the progression varies from person to person. As most people with mixed dementia are mistakenly diagnosed with a single type of dementia, physicians often prescribe medication based on the type of dementia that is been diagnosed. People with dementia will always see their symptoms worsen over time, but not every person with the same type of dementia will decline at the same rate or experience the same symptoms at the same stage. Whether you have just been diagnosed or worry you could have psoriasis, you are probably nervous, confused, and maybe even a little scared.

A Journal Issue

Higher levels of social engagement in older adults have been associated with better physical and cognitive function and wellbeing. Many middle-aged and older adults who are not currently caregivers do expect to provide care in the future. Time spent with older adults has been linked to enhanced social and personal skills in children. Dementia can be devastating to you and your family as you lose your cognitive function and memory.

Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease

Identifying individuals at higher risk of dementia may play a role in future treatments and interventions to reduce their future risk of dementia. Vascular risk factors are modifiable, and their association with dementia emphasizes that many cases of dementia may be prevented or delayed. As seen above even though in most cases, vascular dementia is not linked to genetics, some genetic factors can increase the risk of developing the illness. Researchers around the world are working to develop effective treatments for dementia, and eventually to find a cure.