What is Vascular Dementia?

Vascular dementia is a common form of dementia. It is caused by brain damage due to lack of blood flow to the brain. Strokes are one cause of vascular dementia, but having a stroke does not guarantee someone will develop dementia. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol increase your risk for vascular dementia.

While Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular dementia have overlapping symptoms, vascular dementia symptoms tend to be connected to speed of thinking and processing. These changes may happen suddenly, such as after a stroke or may take place gradually over time.

It is rare to have vascular dementia on its own, with only 10 percent of cases being vascular dementia alone. It much more frequently accompanies other forms dementia such as Alzheimer’s and Lewy body.

Mayo Clinic Minute has a helpful video describing vascular dementia below: