Vascular Dementia

Question 1

Early symptoms of vascular dementia

Answer 1

Slowness of thought
difficultly planning
trouble with understanding
problems with concentration
changes in mood or behaviour
problems with memory and language

Question 2

Later Symptoms

Answer 2

significant slowness of thought
feeling disoriented and confused
memory loss, difficultly concentrating
severe personality changes (can become more aggressive)
mood swings, depression, lack of interest
difficult to walk and keep balance
loss of bladder control
difficultly with daily activities

Question 3

Causes of Vascular Dementia

Answer 3

Narrowing of small blood vessels deep inside the brain.
A stroke (when blood supply is suddenly cut off due to a blood clot).
Lots of mini strokes that cause tiny but widespread damage to the brain.

Question 4

Who is most at risk of vascular dementia?

Answer 4

Smoking, unhealthy diet lack of exercise.
Diabetes, being overweight, high blood pressure.
drinking too much alcohol, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)

Question 5

what things can you not change that can increase your risk of vascular dementia?

Answer 5

Age - people over 65.

Family history - risk of strokes are high if close family has had them.

Ethnicity - South asian, african or caribbean, risk is higher as diabetes and high blood pressure is more common in these groups

Question 6

Treatment?

Answer 6

Currently no cure or a way to reverse the damage that has already happened. But there are ways to help it not get worse:

Care Plans - makes sure you receive the best treatment for your needs.

Lifestyle Changes - losing weight, healthy diet, stopping smoking, getting fit, cutting down on alcohol.

Medicines - medicine may be issues to treat the underlying issues eg high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reducing blood clots etc