Dementia (Vascular)

Question 1

what causes vascular dementia

Answer 1

cerebrovascular changes such as infarction or small vessel changes

Question 2

what type of dementia does vascular dementia overlap the most with

Answer 2

alzheimers

Question 3

risk factors

Answer 3

risk for CVD; age above 60, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity

Question 4

how does vascular dementia present

Answer 4

difficulty solving problems, apathy, disinhibition, slow processing information, poor attention, memory loss,

Question 5

main difference between Alzheimers and vascular dementia

Answer 5

in alzheimers, memory loss is the first sign. in vascular it depends on the area of brain affected/ infarcted

The executive functions of the brain such as planning are more prominently affected than memory. Motor and mood changes are often seen early.

Question 6

how to investigate for vascular dementia

Answer 6

FBC, ESR, blood glucose, renal and LFTs, B12, folate, thyroid function tests, CT/MRI brain and an ECG

Question 7

what treatment for vascular dementia has proved ineffective

Answer 7

treatments aimed at improving cognitive symptoms are quite ineffective

Question 8

what two diseases can cause vascular dementia

Answer 8

atherosclerotic ischaemic disease and cardioembolic disease

Question 9

treatment of atherosclerotic ischaemic disease

Answer 9

anti platelet therapy, lifestyle and supportive care,

statin therapy or cholinesterase inhibitors

Question 10

treatment of cardioembolic disease

Answer 10

anti platelet and anticoagulation therapy