Vascular Dementia

Dementia is a disease that is characterized by memory loss, inability concentrate, forgetfulness and slower thinking.

Vascular dementia (also known as multi-infarct dementia) is a disease that is associated with memory loss and cognitive dysfunction as it is related to the blocking of blood vessels that are located in or near the brain.

The blood vessels may be partially blocked or fully blocked, and in some cases a stroke may occur. It is important to note that not all strokes are related to vascular dementia. Typically, vascular dementia occurs when the blood vessels are narrowed, and there is less blood flowing to certain parts of the brain. When these parts of the brain do not receive the proper amount of blood flow, then they begin to suffer. Typically, vascular dementia is a common form of dementia that occurs in one to four percent of people aged 65 or older.

-alt& � o m Ȁ X� -bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in'>occasionally forget name of spouse or primary care giver but can tell familiar from unfamiliar faces

needs help getting dressed – making errors such as putting pajamas over clothing or shoes on wrong feet

disruption of normal sleep/wake cycle

needs help with toilet use

increasing episodes of incontinence

significant personality changes including suspiciousness, delusions, hallucinations or compulsive behaviors

tendency to wander and become lost

Stage 7

Stage 7 indicates an extreme decline and is considered to be the last stage of dementia as patients lose the ability to respond to environment, speak and move. Most patients who die with dementia will have contracted a condition such as pneumonia because of the inability to move allowing infection to set in. This stage of dementia includes mostly physical decline such as:

• lost capacity for recognizable speech
• assistance required with eating and toiletry – constant incontinence
• lost ability to walk, sit, smile, hold head up
• reflexes return to infancy such as the plantar reflex
• swallowing is impaired

Though Alzheimer’s disease and other progressive dementia disorders are considered to be fatal, with appropriate intervention during the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other dementia, the life and function may be extended through recent medical advances including a number of new prescription medications. For this reason it is important for people in the early stages of dementia to seek medical help as function can be protected and retained but it generally cannot be restored once it is lost.