Vascular Dementia
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia (pronunciation: vas-kyuh-lur dih-men-shuh) is a general term describing problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to your brain.
Etymology
The term "vascular" originates from the Latin word "vasculum" which means "small vessel". "Dementia" is derived from Latin "dementare" meaning "to drive mad", from "de-" + "mens" (mind).
Causes
Vascular dementia can be caused by a number of conditions that narrow the blood vessels, including Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), and Chronic Brain Ischemia. These conditions limit blood flow to the brain, causing significant brain damage.
Symptoms
Symptoms of vascular dementia can vary widely, depending on the severity of the blood vessel damage and the part of the brain affected. Memory loss might be a significant symptom, but unlike Alzheimer's disease, memory loss might not be the predominant symptom. Other signs and symptoms of vascular dementia could include:
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Vision loss
- Difficulty walking or moving
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of vascular dementia involves a series of tests, including neurological examination, brain imaging tests, and cognitive testing. The goal is to rule out other potential causes of memory loss and cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Treatment
There's no specific treatment for vascular dementia. The focus is on controlling the conditions that affect the underlying cause of vascular dementia, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.
Prevention
Prevention of vascular dementia involves a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol. Controlling other health conditions, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, is also important.
See Also
- Alzheimer's disease
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Chronic Brain Ischemia
- Hypertension
- Hyperlipidemia
- Diabetes
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vascular Dementia
- Wikipedia's article - Vascular Dementia
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