At a recent caregiver workshop, a lady raised her hand and said that her husband was recently diagnosed with vascular dementia. She wondered how that was different from Alzheimer’s.

Dementia is the big umbrella name for diseases that are neurological and affect our memories and other cognitive abilities. Alzheimer’s is the largest sub-category of dementia followed by vascular dementia.

What is vascular dementia?

Vascular dementia is caused when the blood supply to the brain is blocked. It affects a person’s memory and cognitive functioning, which includes the ability to reason, recognize things, and make sound judgment. It tends to affect people between the ages of 60 and 75. It affects more men than women and appears to be related to heart disease and—particularly—high blood pressure. It can come on gradually or suddenly.

Vascular Dementia Can Affect:

• Slurred speech
• Language problems
• Abnormal behavior
• Wandering or getting lost in familiar surroundings
• Laughing or crying inappropriately
• Difficulty following instructions
• Problems handling money

There is a bit of good news: by doing all you can to prevent heart disease and high blood pressure, you help to prevent vascular dementia. Daily exercise, eating healthy, taking medications prescribed for your conditions, and keeping your brain sharp and engaged are the best ways to prevent vascular dementia and heart disease.

Know the signs of a stroke:

• Brief episodes of numbness
• Temporary loss of vision, speech, or strength may indicate a mini-stroke (TIA) or a stroke.

If you experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately. There are medications that, when taken early, can help to prevent or deter the effects of a stroke.

The better we educate ourselves, the more we empower ourselves. Share this information with family and friends. Vascular dementia is one disease we can help to prevent.

*from Helpguide.org