Vanquishing Vascular Dementia

Lately, you have been forgetting a lot like where you placed your car keys. Or where you parked your car in the supermarket lot. The doctor has ruled out Alzheimer’s disease and said it looks like vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia occurs when the blood vessels in the body, known as the vascular system, become blocked, diseased or damaged and are unable to provide the brain with normal blood flow. This deprives the brain of adequate oxygen and nutrition, which causes brain cells to die. The resulting injury, which prevents different parts of the brain from communicating with one another, causes symptoms of dementia.

Hardening and narrowing of the arteries, a major stroke or a series of small strokes can cause vascular dementia. In the case of major stroke, symptoms of vascular dementia can appear suddenly. But quite often, the disease builds slowly. As blood flow to the brain decreases, mental impairment gradually becomes more pronounced.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes all predispose one to develop this condition. The dementia caused by vascular disease may look much like Alzheimer’s disease, but the progression tends to be different. In Alzheimer’s, dementia progresses imperceptibly, but in vascular dementia, there usually is a sudden worsening of dementia, followed by a time of stability. A major goal in vascular dementia is to prevent the next stroke through meticulous care of the underlying medical causes and usually with aspirin or prescription medications to prevent a blood clot in the brain.

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia in older adults after Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's disease affects the gray matter (the main bodies of nerve cells), while vascular dementia affects the white matter (the connecting fibers in the brain). Though both involve memory and cognitive impairments, vascular dementia may also affect movement and walking, and may progress in a stepwise fashion rather than gradually.

One of the major risk factors for vascular dementia is high blood pressure, which also plays a role in heart attack and stroke. That’s why it is important to know your numbers, and to monitor blood pressure daily.

To reduce blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight. It is also good to keep track of your waistline measurements. Men who measure more than 40 inches at the waist and women whose waistlines measure more than 35 inches are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

Some other risk factors include high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and lack of physical activity. Addressing these risk factors helps to prevent and slow the condition.

There is no standard treatment for vascular dementia. Blood anticoagulants (such as Coumadin and Plavix) often help to retard the disease process; however, the damaged tissue is destroyed permanently.

 At this time, vascular dementia cannot be reversed, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing it. Although the condition is rare before age 65, the cardiovascular problems that lead to it can begin to develop well before then.

Those steps are as follows:

§  Get moving. Some studies have shown that physical activity is associated with increased cerebral blood flow and better cognitive function. Just 30 minutes of exercise at moderate intensity—you will be able to speak, not sing—three times per week helps protect your heart and your brain.

§  Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, stop. It is a hard process. Thankfully, your health care provider may have suggestions on how to help.

§  Eat a healthy diet: lean meats, fresh fish, legumes, whole grains, seeds, nuts, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Skip the sugar if you can. Limit the simple carbs like pasta, rice, bread and processed cereals.

§  Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Even in moderation, alcohol has been linked to dementia risk, particularly as you age.

While there isn’t a cure for vascular dementia, there is hope. There are health professionals ready to help you, along with family and friends ready to lend support. There are support groups willing to offer an ear to listen and discuss your next move. Don’t be afraid to discuss your options with your physician.