Vascular Dementia 11 University Vascular Dementia <Author> 14 May 2018 <Professor’s name> <Program of Study Background Vascular dementia is among the major causes of dementia in Western Europe and in the United States. Medical studies also indicate that it is the leading cause of dementia in Russia, Japan, and other Eastern countries (Alzheimer's Society 2005). Vascular dementia is an etiological category of dementia that is recognized by the severe cognitive impairment that results from a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke that affects the brain regions that are responsible for cognition, behavior, and memory. It is also described as a clinical-pathological condition where the cerebral lesions of vascular origin cause diverse cognitive symptoms (Alzheimer's Society 2005). These lesions may include diffuse leukoencephalothapy, hemorrhages, and infarcts (Alzheimer's Society 2013). The most recognized vascular pathologies include cerebral amyloid angiopathy, lipohyalinosis, atherosclerosis, and arteriolosclerosis (Alzheimer's Society 2013). It is worth noting that the cortical involvement usually translates into executive dysfunctions which have been experimented and discovered in animal models of vascular dementia. Medical studies, however, have established that a pure form of vascular dementia is a rare condition. Therefore, most studies usually focus on vascular contributions to cognitive dementia and impairment. The mechanisms that underlie the effects of vascular diseases on the medical manifestations of dementia have not been fully established, however, it is well known that conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are some risk factors for dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2013). Medical researchers are currently facing the challenge of establishing effective interventions for patients at high risk of developing vascular dementia which will delay, prevent and ameliorate the progression of cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Society 2013). This paper, therefore, focuses on describing vascular dementia by assessing its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It further discusses the role of Computed Tomography (CT) in treating vascular dementia. Causes and Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia Race, gender, and age have been identified as risk factors for vascular dementia. When compared to Alzheimer’s disease, the rate of vascular dementia increases exponentially with age, however, the rate of increase appears to be steeper for vascular dementia (Meyer 2001). In the case of gender, medical studies indicate that males are more at risk of getting vascular dementia than the females (Meyer 2001). Racially, the Blacks seem to be at higher risk of getting vascular dementia more than people from other races (Meyer 2001). Medical studies have also identified a close relationship of stroke risk factors to vascular dementia risk factor, however, the two conditions and not identical. Other risk factors for vascular d ...

1. Vascular Dementia
11
University
Vascular Dementia
<Author>
14 May 2018
<Professor’s name>
<Program of Study
Background
Vascular dementia is among the major causes of dementia in
Western Europe and in the United States. Medical studies also
indicate that it is the leading cause of dementia in Russia,
Japan, and other Eastern countries (Alzheimer's Society 2005).
Vascular dementia is an etiological category of dementia that is
recognized by the severe cognitive impairment that results from
a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke that affects the brain regions
that are responsible for cognition, behavior, and memory. It is
also described as a clinical-pathological condition where the
cerebral lesions of vascular origin cause diverse cognitive

2. symptoms (Alzheimer's Society 2005). These lesions may
include diffuse leukoencephalothapy, hemorrhages, and infarcts
(Alzheimer's Society 2013).
The most recognized vascular pathologies include cerebral
amyloid angiopathy, lipohyalinosis, atherosclerosis, and
arteriolosclerosis (Alzheimer's Society 2013). It is worth noting
that the cortical involvement usually translates into executive
dysfunctions which have been experimented and discovered in
animal models of vascular dementia. Medical studies, however,
have established that a pure form of vascular dementia is a rare
condition. Therefore, most studies usually focus on vascular
contributions to cognitive dementia and impairment. The
mechanisms that underlie the effects of vascular diseases on the
medical manifestations of dementia have not been fully
established, however, it is well known that conditions such as
hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are some risk factors for
dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2013). Medical researchers are
currently facing the challenge of establishing effective
interventions for patients at high risk of developing vascular
dementia which will delay, prevent and ameliorate the
progression of cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Society
2013). This paper, therefore, focuses on describing vascular
dementia by assessing its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and
treatment. It further discusses the role of Computed
Tomography (CT) in treating vascular dementia.
Causes and Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia
Race, gender, and age have been identified as risk factors for
vascular dementia. When compared to Alzheimer’s disease, the
rate of vascular dementia increases exponentially with age,
however, the rate of increase appears to be steeper for vascular
dementia (Meyer 2001). In the case of gender, medical studies
indicate that males are more at risk of getting vascular dementia
than the females (Meyer 2001). Racially, the Blacks seem to be
at higher risk of getting vascular dementia more than people
from other races (Meyer 2001). Medical studies have also

3. identified a close relationship of stroke risk factors to vascular
dementia risk factor, however, the two conditions and not
identical. Other risk factors for vascular dementia include
diabetes mellitus, low HDL cholesterol levels and arterial
hypertension (Meyer 2001).
Vascular dementia occurs when blood vessels supplying the
brain get blocked or narrowed (Wahlund et al. 2009). This
condition has similar risk factors and symptoms as the stroke
that occurs when the supply of blood rich in oxygen to the brain
is suddenly cut off. Medical studies have established that
vascular dementia is created over a long time due to cumulative
vascular damage to the brain (Wahlund et al. 2009). However,
there is no known specific type, size or location of stroke that
predicts the damage to the brain and intellectual decline.
Studies also indicate that observable vascular brain damage
usually occurs in almost half of the population of people who
are above 65 years or the elderly persons (Budson and Solomon
2015). The five key types of vascular brain damage include
hypotensive brain damage, hypertensive changes, ischemic
white matter damage, anoxic brain damage and stroke produced
by atherosclerosis (Budson and Solomon 2015).
Stroke, which is a risk factor for vascular dementia, is produced
by atherosclerosis. This is a disorder that is common in large
diameter blood vessels. Atherosclerosis leads to the hardening
of the arteries and this condition is a common disorder in the
elderly persons above 65 years old (Grotta 2016). The risk
factors for atherosclerosis include diabetes, elevated lipids, and
hypertension. This condition damages the inner layer of large
diameter blood vessels and also causes cholesterol debris to be
deposited in the inner layer of large diameter blood vessels
(Grotta 2016). The resulting bulging effect that is commonly
known as atherosclerosis plagues has adverse health effect like
causing blood clotting that in turn occludes the blood vessels.
Likewise, the fragmented debris resulting from these deposits
can break loose and produce stroke through occluding smaller

4. diameter blood vessels (Grotta 2016).
Severe heart diseases are also risk factors for vascular
dementia. This is because they produce blood clotting and poor
blood flow within heart chambers like ventricles. Fragments
from these clots such as emboli and thrombus can be transported
to the brain and this also produces stroke (Sharre 2016).
Irregular pumping of heart like arrhythmias also sometimes
causes embolic strokes. Long-term suffering from hypertension
produces arteriolosclerosis which is the damage to small
diameter blood vessels. Hypertension usually destroys the
middle layer of small blood vessels (Sharre 2016). The result is
the disintegration of blood vessels and bleeding into the blood
tissues. Arteriolosclerosis also leads to the blockage of the
blood vessels and this creates a small slit-like stroke that is
known as lacunar infarct (Sharre 2016). This condition together
with hemorrhages is common features in patients with untreated
hypertension. Uncontrolled hemorrhage, on the other hand,
usually leads to death.
Vascular dementia is also understood to be caused by the
damage of fragile blood vessels that connect neurons I to the
spinal cord. These fragile blood vessels are easily damaged by
high blood pressure causing white matter abnormalities. Some
of these abnormalities have been given names like
leukoaraiosis, Binswanger’s disease and subcortical arteriolar
sclerotic leukoencephalopathy (Bowler and Hachinski 2003).
Last but not least, low blood flow or low oxygen flow to the
brain produces anoxic brain damage. Neurons usually can only
survive for three minutes without an adequate oxygen supply.
Without enough oxygen and blood flow through the neurons, the
affected person will experience respiratory or cardiac arrest
(Bowler and Hachinski 2003). Damage to brains regions like
hippocampus that cannot survive without oxygen supply usually
produces amnesia which is also a risk factor for vascular
dementia.

5. Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
Clinical studies indicate that vascular dementia has similar
symptoms as those of Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms do
get more similar as vascular dementia progresses. Important to
note is that the early signs of vascular dementia are not
forgetfulness but they include reduced speed of thought,
concentration problems characterized by short periods of
confusion, and difficulties with organizing or planning like
making consistent decisions (Holtz 2011). A patient with early
symptoms of vascular dementia is usually prone to mood
swings, apathy and being unusually emotional (Holtz 2011).
Sometimes they do develop depression and anxiety since they
become worried about what the vascular dementia is doing to
them. Vascular dementia that follows a serious stroke is usually
characterized by physical symptoms that include problems with
speech or vision, and weakness of the limbs (Holtz 2011). The
early signs of vascular dementia are a result of the damage to
the brain caused by stroke. The symptoms of vascular dementia
begin resembling those of middle and acute stage Alzheimer’s
disease.
The early symptoms get worse as vascular dementia propagates
and problems such as confusion, communication, reasoning,
memory loss, and disorientation become worse. Behavioral
changes such as agitation and irritability that are similar to
Alzheimer’s disease are also witnessed as vascular dementia
propagates. Hallucination and delusions also characterize
vascular dementia in its late stages (Leatherdale 2013). These
symptoms can be summarized as challenges with short-term
memory, getting lost in familiar areas, crying or laughing at
inappropriate times, challenges in following instructions, a
problem in managing money, problems with planning and
concentrating, delusions, hallucinations, and loss of bowel
control or loss of bladder (Leatherdale 2013). Balancing and
walking can also be problems in the early stages of vascular
dementia.

6. Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia
Health experts have established that the early occurrence of
vascular dementia is difficult to notice. Therefore, they
recommend that professional screening with brief tests to access
thinking, reasoning, and memory should be conducted for
patients especially the elderly persons who are over 65 years
old who are considered to be at higher risk of developing this
disorder (Mendez et al. 2003). Screening should also be
performed on people who have had stroke or mini-stroke, people
with high HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, high blood
pressure and other risk factors for blood vessel and heart
diseases (Mendez et al. 2003). The health experts also
recommend professional screening for depression since people
with depression are also at higher risks of developing vascular
dementia disorder. This is because depression has been found to
coexist with other brain vascular diseases that usually reduce
intelligence and also contributes to other cognitive symptoms
(Mendez et al. 2003). Whenever a brief screening provides hints
on changes in a patient’s reasoning or thinking, a more detailed
screening will be required to perform a thorough diagnosis.
The primary elements in the assessment of vascular dementia
include a proper follow up of a patient’s medical history,
including his or her family history of dementia, assessment of
the patient’s daily activities and independent functions, input
from a trusted friend or family member, tests in the laboratory
that includes brain imaging and blood tests, and in-office
examination evaluating functions of reflexes and nerves,
coordination, sense, balance and movements (Leatherdale
2013). The three key likelihood that dementia or mild cognitive
impairment are as a result of vascular changes includes; if
neurocognitive testing confirms mild cognitive impairment and
diagnosis of dementia (Leatherdale 2013). This is usually
performed for several hours of computerized and written tests
that provide a detailed assessment of certain thinking skills
which include problem-solving, memory, reasoning, planning
and judgment (Leatherdale 2013). Secondly, if the brain

7. imaging performed by magnetic resonance imaging shows
evidence for a recent case of stroke or changes in the structure
of other blood vessels whose network interfere with the tissues
and they relate to documented types of impairment in
neurocognitive testing (Leatherdale 2013). And lastly, if there
is no proof that the other factors, other than vascular changes,
are causing the decline in a person’s cognitive ability
(Leatherdale 2013).
Treatment and Outcome of Vascular Dementia
Until to date, there is no medical research that has come with
drugs to treat the symptoms of vascular dementia. However,
clinical tests have somehow approved that certain drugs that
treat Alzheimer's disease may also help patients who are
diagnosed with vascular dementia. Without curative drugs,
interventions such as managing the risk factors which may
improve the chances of increased damage to the brain’s blood
vessels are important strategies for treating vascular dementia
(Moretti 2006). Clinical tests have proven that treating risk
factors is a sure treatment method that improves the outcome
and prevents further damage to blood vessels in the brain and
reduced intelligence. Every vascular dementia patient has his or
her own way of managing her condition. Therefore, the patients
need to engage and work together with physicians to create the
best treatment plans that best suits a patient for their
circumstances and symptoms (Moretti 2006). Treatment also
involves managing high blood pressure through medication,
diet, and exercise (Moretti 2006). For patients suffering from
diabetes, they should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
Behavioral interventions such as reminders and cues can also
assist in improving the quality of health for vascular dementia
patients. Communication with the vascular dementia patients
should also be improved and made effective like reminding the
patients on dates and the tasks they should be performing at a
given time. Identifying early symptoms of vascular dementia
helps in preventing further damage to the brain and this is the

8. best treatment method for this condition. Untreated vascular
dementia usually ends up in heart diseases or infections and in
worst conditions like stroke it leads to death.
Computed Tomography Scan for Vascular Dementia
This is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure that works
with the same technology as X-ray; however, it produces more
details of the body internal organs more than X-ray. This
technology is a combination of high computer technology and
special X-ray equipment. CT scan produces cross-sectional
images of the body both vertically and horizontally (Haaga
2009). The images produced can then be displayed and analyzed
through a computer monitor or printed for analysis. CT scan is
important in the diagnosis of vascular dementia because it
produces comprehensive images of all bones, body organs,
including the brain, bones, and muscles (Haaga 2009). The
images for blood vessels, internal organs, soft tissues and bones
that are produced by this technology also have high clarity and
provide more details than X-ray can provide. Unlike X-ray, CT
scan is not a risk factor for health and it can be conducted
repeatedly because it minimizes exposure to radiations (Barkhof
2011). Medical experts sometimes inject a dye in a person’s
veins to let the tissues and organs show up more clearly. In CT
scan, the X-ray beam moves all around a patient’s body
(Alzheimer's Society 2011). This is important in the diagnosis
of vascular dementia because it allows a specific organ to be
viewed from different angles. The obtained information is then
transmitted into a computer that interprets the information and
displays the results in a two-dimensional monitor (Alzheimer's
Society 2011). The information obtained from CT scan is easily
interpreted by radiologists who can then easily diagnose
problems such as vascular dementia, musculoskeletal disorders,
trauma and cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis of the chest
using CT scan is important in discovering the early symptoms of
vascular dementia and other chronic diseases. Chest scan can

9. also be used to visualize the placement of needles during
aspiration of fluids from the chest or during biopsies of thoracic
tumors and organs. This is important for the monitoring of
tumor as it is one of the risk factors for brain damage that also
causes vascular dementia.
Conclusion
Vascular dementia is a condition that is caused when blood
vessels supplying the brain are blocked, narrowed or damaged.
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those of stroke
and Alzheimer’s disease from its onset to late stages. One of the
notable symptoms of this condition is the impairment of
thinking and reasoning capability. These symptoms are as
results of the mild or severe damage of some regions of the
brain. Clinical studies have identified that age, gender, and race
are risk factors and causes of vascular dementia. Other risk
factors are obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.
Diagnosis of vascular dementia in patients suffering from
obesity, hypertension, and diabetes is important in discovering
its early signs since the disorders take too long to show its
related symptoms. Brain imaging through CT scan and MRI are
some of the best diagnosis methods for vascular dementia.
Treatment of the condition involves managing risk factors and
health conditions that produce vascular dementia. Managing
high blood pressure, hypertension, and diabetes can effectively
prevent and slow down the propagation of vascular dementia.
References
Alzheimer's Society 2005, Understanding vascular dementia.
London, Alzheimer's
Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2011, Alzheimers society factsheet 402:
what is vascular
dementia? New York, Alzheimer'S Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2013, The Dementia Guide. UK, NHS.

10. Barkhof, F. 2011, Neuroimaging in dementia. Berlin, Springer.
Bowler, J. V., & Hachinski, V. C. 2003, Vascular cognitive
impairment: preventable
dementia. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Budson, A. E., & Solomon, P. R. 2015, Memory Loss,
Alzheimer's Disease, and
Dementia. New York, Elsevier.
Grotta, J. C. 2016, Stroke: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and
management. Philadelphia,
Elsevier Saunders.
Haaga, J. R. 2009, CT and MRI of the whole body. Volume 1
Volume 1. Philadelphia,
PA, Mosby/Elsevier.
Holtz, J. L. 2011, Applied clinical neuropsychology: an
introduction. New York, Springer
Pub. Co.
Leatherdale, L. 2013, Sundown dementia, vascular dementia and
Lewy body dementia:
stages, symptoms, signs, prognosis, diagnosis, treatments,
progression, care
and mood changes all covered. New York, IMB Publishing.
Mendez, M. F., Cummings, J. L., & Cummings, J. L. 2003,
Dementia: a clinical
approach. Amsterdam, Butterworth-Heinemann.
Meyer, J. S. 2001, Vascular dementia. Armonk, NY, Futura Pub.

11. Co.
Moretti, R. 2006, Subcortical vascular dementia. New York,
Nova Science Publishers.
Sharre, D. 2016, Long-Term Management of Dementia. New
York, CRC.
Wahlund, L.-O., Erkinjuntti, T., & Gauthier, S. 2009, Vascular
cognitive impairment in
clinical practice. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.
Vascular Dementia
11
University
Vascular Dementia
<Author>
14 May 2018
<Professor’s name>
<Program of Study
Background

12. Vascular dementia is among the major causes of dementia in
Western Europe and in the United States. Medical studies also
indicate that it is the leading cause of dementia in Russia,
Japan, and other Eastern countries (Alzheimer's Society 2005).
Vascular dementia is an etiological category of dementia that is
recognized by the severe cognitive impairment that results from
a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke that affects the brain regions
that are responsible for cognition, behavior, and memory. It is
also described as a clinical-pathological condition where the
cerebral lesions of vascular origin cause diverse cognitive
symptoms (Alzheimer's Society 2005). These lesions may
include diffuse leukoencephalothapy, hemorrhages, and infarcts
(Alzheimer's Society 2013).
The most recognized vascular pathologies include cerebral
amyloid angiopathy, lipohyalinosis, atherosclerosis, and
arteriolosclerosis (Alzheimer's Society 2013). It is worth noting
that the cortical involvement usually translates into executive
dysfunctions which have been experimented and discovered in
animal models of vascular dementia. Medical studies, however,
have established that a pure form of vascular dementia is a rare
condition. Therefore, most studies usually focus on vascular
contributions to cognitive dementia and impairment. The
mechanisms that underlie the effects of vascular diseases on the
medical manifestations of dementia have not been fully
established, however, it is well known that conditions such as
hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are some risk factors for
dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2013). Medical researchers are
currently facing the challenge of establishing effective
interventions for patients at high risk of developing vascular
dementia which will delay, prevent and ameliorate the
progression of cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Society
2013). This paper, therefore, focuses on describing vascular
dementia by assessing its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and
treatment. It further discusses the role of Computed
Tomography (CT) in treating vascular dementia.

13. Causes and Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia
Race, gender, and age have been identified as risk factors for
vascular dementia. When compared to Alzheimer’s disease, the
rate of vascular dementia increases exponentially with age,
however, the rate of increase appears to be steeper for vascular
dementia (Meyer 2001). In the case of gender, medical studies
indicate that males are more at risk of getting vascular dementia
than the females (Meyer 2001). Racially, the Blacks seem to be
at higher risk of getting vascular dementia more than people
from other races (Meyer 2001). Medical studies have also
identified a close relationship of stroke risk factors to vascular
dementia risk factor, however, the two conditions and not
identical. Other risk factors for vascular dementia include
diabetes mellitus, low HDL cholesterol levels and arterial
hypertension (Meyer 2001).
Vascular dementia occurs when blood vessels supplying the
brain get blocked or narrowed (Wahlund et al. 2009). This
condition has similar risk factors and symptoms as the stroke
that occurs when the supply of blood rich in oxygen to the brain
is suddenly cut off. Medical studies have established that
vascular dementia is created over a long time due to cumulative
vascular damage to the brain (Wahlund et al. 2009). However,
there is no known specific type, size or location of stroke that
predicts the damage to the brain and intellectual decline.
Studies also indicate that observable vascular brain damage
usually occurs in almost half of the population of people who
are above 65 years or the elderly persons (Budson and Solomon
2015). The five key types of vascular brain damage include
hypotensive brain damage, hypertensive changes, ischemic
white matter damage, anoxic brain damage and stroke produced
by atherosclerosis (Budson and Solomon 2015).
Stroke, which is a risk factor for vascular dementia, is produced
by atherosclerosis. This is a disorder that is common in large
diameter blood vessels. Atherosclerosis leads to the hardening

14. of the arteries and this condition is a common disorder in the
elderly persons above 65 years old (Grotta 2016). The risk
factors for atherosclerosis include diabetes, elevated lipids, and
hypertension. This condition damages the inner layer of large
diameter blood vessels and also causes cholesterol debris to be
deposited in the inner layer of large diameter blood vessels
(Grotta 2016). The resulting bulging effect that is commonly
known as atherosclerosis plagues has adverse health effect like
causing blood clotting that in turn occludes the blood vessels.
Likewise, the fragmented debris resulting from these deposits
can break loose and produce stroke through occluding smaller
diameter blood vessels (Grotta 2016).
Severe heart diseases are also risk factors for vascular
dementia. This is because they produce blood clotting and poor
blood flow within heart chambers like ventricles. Fragments
from these clots such as emboli and thrombus can be transported
to the brain and this also produces stroke (Sharre 2016).
Irregular pumping of heart like arrhythmias also sometimes
causes embolic strokes. Long-term suffering from hypertension
produces arteriolosclerosis which is the damage to small
diameter blood vessels. Hypertension usually destroys the
middle layer of small blood vessels (Sharre 2016). The result is
the disintegration of blood vessels and bleeding into the blood
tissues. Arteriolosclerosis also leads to the blockage of the
blood vessels and this creates a small slit-like stroke that is
known as lacunar infarct (Sharre 2016). This condition together
with hemorrhages is common features in patients with untreated
hypertension. Uncontrolled hemorrhage, on the other hand,
usually leads to death.
Vascular dementia is also understood to be caused by the
damage of fragile blood vessels that connect neurons I to the
spinal cord. These fragile blood vessels are easily damaged by
high blood pressure causing white matter abnormalities. Some
of these abnormalities have been given names like
leukoaraiosis, Binswanger’s disease and subcortical arteriolar

15. sclerotic leukoencephalopathy (Bowler and Hachinski 2003).
Last but not least, low blood flow or low oxygen flow to the
brain produces anoxic brain damage. Neurons usually can only
survive for three minutes without an adequate oxygen supply.
Without enough oxygen and blood flow through the neurons, the
affected person will experience respiratory or cardiac arrest
(Bowler and Hachinski 2003). Damage to brains regions like
hippocampus that cannot survive without oxygen supply usually
produces amnesia which is also a risk factor for vascular
dementia.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
Clinical studies indicate that vascular dementia has similar
symptoms as those of Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms do
get more similar as vascular dementia progresses. Important to
note is that the early signs of vascular dementia are not
forgetfulness but they include reduced speed of thought,
concentration problems characterized by short periods of
confusion, and difficulties with organizing or planning like
making consistent decisions (Holtz 2011). A patient with early
symptoms of vascular dementia is usually prone to mood
swings, apathy and being unusually emotional (Holtz 2011).
Sometimes they do develop depression and anxiety since they
become worried about what the vascular dementia is doing to
them. Vascular dementia that follows a serious stroke is usually
characterized by physical symptoms that include problems with
speech or vision, and weakness of the limbs (Holtz 2011). The
early signs of vascular dementia are a result of the damage to
the brain caused by stroke. The symptoms of vascular dementia
begin resembling those of middle and acute stage Alzheimer’s
disease.
The early symptoms get worse as vascular dementia propagates
and problems such as confusion, communication, reasoning,
memory loss, and disorientation become worse. Behavioral
changes such as agitation and irritability that are similar to
Alzheimer’s disease are also witnessed as vascular dementia

16. propagates. Hallucination and delusions also characterize
vascular dementia in its late stages (Leatherdale 2013). These
symptoms can be summarized as challenges with short-term
memory, getting lost in familiar areas, crying or laughing at
inappropriate times, challenges in following instructions, a
problem in managing money, problems with planning and
concentrating, delusions, hallucinations, and loss of bowel
control or loss of bladder (Leatherdale 2013). Balancing and
walking can also be problems in the early stages of vascular
dementia.
Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia
Health experts have established that the early occurrence of
vascular dementia is difficult to notice. Therefore, they
recommend that professional screening with brief tests to access
thinking, reasoning, and memory should be conducted for
patients especially the elderly persons who are over 65 years
old who are considered to be at higher risk of developing this
disorder (Mendez et al. 2003). Screening should also be
performed on people who have had stroke or mini-stroke, people
with high HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, high blood
pressure and other risk factors for blood vessel and heart
diseases (Mendez et al. 2003). The health experts also
recommend professional screening for depression since people
with depression are also at higher risks of developing vascular
dementia disorder. This is because depression has been found to
coexist with other brain vascular diseases that usually reduce
intelligence and also contributes to other cognitive symptoms
(Mendez et al. 2003). Whenever a brief screening provides hints
on changes in a patient’s reasoning or thinking, a more detailed
screening will be required to perform a thorough diagnosis.
The primary elements in the assessment of vascular dementia
include a proper follow up of a patient’s medical history,
including his or her family history of dementia, assessment of
the patient’s daily activities and independent functions, input
from a trusted friend or family member, tests in the laboratory

17. that includes brain imaging and blood tests, and in-office
examination evaluating functions of reflexes and nerves,
coordination, sense, balance and movements (Leatherdale
2013). The three key likelihood that dementia or mild cognitive
impairment are as a result of vascular changes includes; if
neurocognitive testing confirms mild cognitive impairment and
diagnosis of dementia (Leatherdale 2013). This is usually
performed for several hours of computerized and written tests
that provide a detailed assessment of certain thinking skills
which include problem-solving, memory, reasoning, planning
and judgment (Leatherdale 2013). Secondly, if the brain
imaging performed by magnetic resonance imaging shows
evidence for a recent case of stroke or changes in the structure
of other blood vessels whose network interfere with the tissues
and they relate to documented types of impairment in
neurocognitive testing (Leatherdale 2013). And lastly, if there
is no proof that the other factors, other than vascular changes,
are causing the decline in a person’s cognitive ability
(Leatherdale 2013).
Treatment and Outcome of Vascular Dementia
Until to date, there is no medical research that has come with
drugs to treat the symptoms of vascular dementia. However,
clinical tests have somehow approved that certain drugs that
treat Alzheimer's disease may also help patients who are
diagnosed with vascular dementia. Without curative drugs,
interventions such as managing the risk factors which may
improve the chances of increased damage to the brain’s blood
vessels are important strategies for treating vascular dementia
(Moretti 2006). Clinical tests have proven that treating risk
factors is a sure treatment method that improves the outcome
and prevents further damage to blood vessels in the brain and
reduced intelligence. Every vascular dementia patient has his or
her own way of managing her condition. Therefore, the patients
need to engage and work together with physicians to create the
best treatment plans that best suits a patient for their

18. circumstances and symptoms (Moretti 2006). Treatment also
involves managing high blood pressure through medication,
diet, and exercise (Moretti 2006). For patients suffering from
diabetes, they should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
Behavioral interventions such as reminders and cues can also
assist in improving the quality of health for vascular dementia
patients. Communication with the vascular dementia patients
should also be improved and made effective like reminding the
patients on dates and the tasks they should be performing at a
given time. Identifying early symptoms of vascular dementia
helps in preventing further damage to the brain and this is the
best treatment method for this condition. Untreated vascular
dementia usually ends up in heart diseases or infections and in
worst conditions like stroke it leads to death.
Computed Tomography Scan for Vascular Dementia
This is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure that works
with the same technology as X-ray; however, it produces more
details of the body internal organs more than X-ray. This
technology is a combination of high computer technology and
special X-ray equipment. CT scan produces cross-sectional
images of the body both vertically and horizontally (Haaga
2009). The images produced can then be displayed and analyzed
through a computer monitor or printed for analysis. CT scan is
important in the diagnosis of vascular dementia because it
produces comprehensive images of all bones, body organs,
including the brain, bones, and muscles (Haaga 2009). The
images for blood vessels, internal organs, soft tissues and bones
that are produced by this technology also have high clarity and
provide more details than X-ray can provide. Unlike X-ray, CT
scan is not a risk factor for health and it can be conducted
repeatedly because it minimizes exposure to radiations (Barkhof
2011). Medical experts sometimes inject a dye in a person’s
veins to let the tissues and organs show up more clearly. In CT
scan, the X-ray beam moves all around a patient’s body

19. (Alzheimer's Society 2011). This is important in the diagnosis
of vascular dementia because it allows a specific organ to be
viewed from different angles. The obtained information is then
transmitted into a computer that interprets the information and
displays the results in a two-dimensional monitor (Alzheimer's
Society 2011). The information obtained from CT scan is easily
interpreted by radiologists who can then easily diagnose
problems such as vascular dementia, musculoskeletal disorders,
trauma and cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis of the chest
using CT scan is important in discovering the early symptoms of
vascular dementia and other chronic diseases. Chest scan can
also be used to visualize the placement of needles during
aspiration of fluids from the chest or during biopsies of thoracic
tumors and organs. This is important for the monitoring of
tumor as it is one of the risk factors for brain damage that also
causes vascular dementia.
Conclusion
Vascular dementia is a condition that is caused when blood
vessels supplying the brain are blocked, narrowed or damaged.
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those of stroke
and Alzheimer’s disease from its onset to late stages. One of the
notable symptoms of this condition is the impairment of
thinking and reasoning capability. These symptoms are as
results of the mild or severe damage of some regions of the
brain. Clinical studies have identified that age, gender, and race
are risk factors and causes of vascular dementia. Other risk
factors are obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.
Diagnosis of vascular dementia in patients suffering from
obesity, hypertension, and diabetes is important in discovering
its early signs since the disorders take too long to show its
related symptoms. Brain imaging through CT scan and MRI are
some of the best diagnosis methods for vascular dementia.
Treatment of the condition involves managing risk factors and
health conditions that produce vascular dementia. Managing
high blood pressure, hypertension, and diabetes can effectively

20. prevent and slow down the propagation of vascular dementia.
References
Alzheimer's Society 2005, Understanding vascular dementia.
London, Alzheimer's
Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2011, Alzheimers society factsheet 402:
what is vascular
dementia? New York, Alzheimer'S Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2013, The Dementia Guide. UK, NHS.
Barkhof, F. 2011, Neuroimaging in dementia. Berlin, Springer.
Bowler, J. V., & Hachinski, V. C. 2003, Vascular cognitive
impairment: preventable
dementia. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Budson, A. E., & Solomon, P. R. 2015, Memory Loss,
Alzheimer's Disease, and
Dementia. New York, Elsevier.
Grotta, J. C. 2016, Stroke: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and
management. Philadelphia,
Elsevier Saunders.
Haaga, J. R. 2009, CT and MRI of the whole body. Volume 1
Volume 1. Philadelphia,
PA, Mosby/Elsevier.
Holtz, J. L. 2011, Applied clinical neuropsychology: an
introduction. New York, Springer
Pub. Co.
Leatherdale, L. 2013, Sundown dementia, vascular dementia and

21. Lewy body dementia:
stages, symptoms, signs, prognosis, diagnosis, treatments,
progression, care
and mood changes all covered. New York, IMB Publishing.
Mendez, M. F., Cummings, J. L., & Cummings, J. L. 2003,
Dementia: a clinical
approach. Amsterdam, Butterworth-Heinemann.
Meyer, J. S. 2001, Vascular dementia. Armonk, NY, Futura Pub.
Co.
Moretti, R. 2006, Subcortical vascular dementia. New York,
Nova Science Publishers.
Sharre, D. 2016, Long-Term Management of Dementia. New
York, CRC.
Wahlund, L.-O., Erkinjuntti, T., & Gauthier, S. 2009, Vascular
cognitive impairment in
clinical practice. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.
Vascular Dementia
11
University

22. Vascular Dementia
<Author>
14 May 2018
<Professor’s name>
<Program of Study
Background
Vascular dementia is among the major causes of dementia in
Western Europe and in the United States. Medical studies also
indicate that it is the leading cause of dementia in Russia,
Japan, and other Eastern countries (Alzheimer's Society 2005).
Vascular dementia is an etiological category of dementia that is
recognized by the severe cognitive impairment that results from
a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke that affects the brain regions
that are responsible for cognition, behavior, and memory. It is
also described as a clinical-pathological condition where the
cerebral lesions of vascular origin cause diverse cognitive
symptoms (Alzheimer's Society 2005). These lesions may
include diffuse leukoencephalothapy, hemorrhages, and infarcts
(Alzheimer's Society 2013).
The most recognized vascular pathologies include cerebral
amyloid angiopathy, lipohyalinosis, atherosclerosis, and
arteriolosclerosis (Alzheimer's Society 2013). It is worth noting
that the cortical involvement usually translates into executive
dysfunctions which have been experimented and discovered in
animal models of vascular dementia. Medical studies, however,
have established that a pure form of vascular dementia is a rare
condition. Therefore, most studies usually focus on vascular
contributions to cognitive dementia and impairment. The
mechanisms that underlie the effects of vascular diseases on the
medical manifestations of dementia have not been fully

23. established, however, it is well known that conditions such as
hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are some risk factors for
dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2013). Medical researchers are
currently facing the challenge of establishing effective
interventions for patients at high risk of developing vascular
dementia which will delay, prevent and ameliorate the
progression of cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Society
2013). This paper, therefore, focuses on describing vascular
dementia by assessing its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and
treatment. It further discusses the role of Computed
Tomography (CT) in treating vascular dementia.
Causes and Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia
Race, gender, and age have been identified as risk factors for
vascular dementia. When compared to Alzheimer’s disease, the
rate of vascular dementia increases exponentially with age,
however, the rate of increase appears to be steeper for vascular
dementia (Meyer 2001). In the case of gender, medical studies
indicate that males are more at risk of getting vascular dementia
than the females (Meyer 2001). Racially, the Blacks seem to be
at higher risk of getting vascular dementia more than people
from other races (Meyer 2001). Medical studies have also
identified a close relationship of stroke risk factors to vascular
dementia risk factor, however, the two conditions and not
identical. Other risk factors for vascular dementia include
diabetes mellitus, low HDL cholesterol levels and arterial
hypertension (Meyer 2001).
Vascular dementia occurs when blood vessels supplying the
brain get blocked or narrowed (Wahlund et al. 2009). This
condition has similar risk factors and symptoms as the stroke
that occurs when the supply of blood rich in oxygen to the brain
is suddenly cut off. Medical studies have established that
vascular dementia is created over a long time due to cumulative
vascular damage to the brain (Wahlund et al. 2009). However,
there is no known specific type, size or location of stroke that

24. predicts the damage to the brain and intellectual decline.
Studies also indicate that observable vascular brain damage
usually occurs in almost half of the population of people who
are above 65 years or the elderly persons (Budson and Solomon
2015). The five key types of vascular brain damage include
hypotensive brain damage, hypertensive changes, ischemic
white matter damage, anoxic brain damage and stroke produced
by atherosclerosis (Budson and Solomon 2015).
Stroke, which is a risk factor for vascular dementia, is produced
by atherosclerosis. This is a disorder that is common in large
diameter blood vessels. Atherosclerosis leads to the hardening
of the arteries and this condition is a common disorder in the
elderly persons above 65 years old (Grotta 2016). The risk
factors for atherosclerosis include diabetes, elevated lipids, and
hypertension. This condition damages the inner layer of large
diameter blood vessels and also causes cholesterol debris to be
deposited in the inner layer of large diameter blood vessels
(Grotta 2016). The resulting bulging effect that is commonly
known as atherosclerosis plagues has adverse health effect like
causing blood clotting that in turn occludes the blood vessels.
Likewise, the fragmented debris resulting from these deposits
can break loose and produce stroke through occluding smaller
diameter blood vessels (Grotta 2016).
Severe heart diseases are also risk factors for vascular
dementia. This is because they produce blood clotting and poor
blood flow within heart chambers like ventricles. Fragments
from these clots such as emboli and thrombus can be transported
to the brain and this also produces stroke (Sharre 2016).
Irregular pumping of heart like arrhythmias also sometimes
causes embolic strokes. Long-term suffering from hypertension
produces arteriolosclerosis which is the damage to small
diameter blood vessels. Hypertension usually destroys the
middle layer of small blood vessels (Sharre 2016). The result is
the disintegration of blood vessels and bleeding into the blood
tissues. Arteriolosclerosis also leads to the blockage of the
blood vessels and this creates a small slit-like stroke that is

25. known as lacunar infarct (Sharre 2016). This condition together
with hemorrhages is common features in patients with untreated
hypertension. Uncontrolled hemorrhage, on the other hand,
usually leads to death.
Vascular dementia is also understood to be caused by the
damage of fragile blood vessels that connect neurons I to the
spinal cord. These fragile blood vessels are easily damaged by
high blood pressure causing white matter abnormalities. Some
of these abnormalities have been given names like
leukoaraiosis, Binswanger’s disease and subcortical arteriolar
sclerotic leukoencephalopathy (Bowler and Hachinski 2003).
Last but not least, low blood flow or low oxygen flow to the
brain produces anoxic brain damage. Neurons usually can only
survive for three minutes without an adequate oxygen supply.
Without enough oxygen and blood flow through the neurons, the
affected person will experience respiratory or cardiac arrest
(Bowler and Hachinski 2003). Damage to brains regions like
hippocampus that cannot survive without oxygen supply usually
produces amnesia which is also a risk factor for vascular
dementia.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
Clinical studies indicate that vascular dementia has similar
symptoms as those of Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms do
get more similar as vascular dementia progresses. Important to
note is that the early signs of vascular dementia are not
forgetfulness but they include reduced speed of thought,
concentration problems characterized by short periods of
confusion, and difficulties with organizing or planning like
making consistent decisions (Holtz 2011). A patient with early
symptoms of vascular dementia is usually prone to mood
swings, apathy and being unusually emotional (Holtz 2011).
Sometimes they do develop depression and anxiety since they
become worried about what the vascular dementia is doing to
them. Vascular dementia that follows a serious stroke is usually

26. characterized by physical symptoms that include problems with
speech or vision, and weakness of the limbs (Holtz 2011). The
early signs of vascular dementia are a result of the damage to
the brain caused by stroke. The symptoms of vascular dementia
begin resembling those of middle and acute stage Alzheimer’s
disease.
The early symptoms get worse as vascular dementia propagates
and problems such as confusion, communication, reasoning,
memory loss, and disorientation become worse. Behavioral
changes such as agitation and irritability that are similar to
Alzheimer’s disease are also witnessed as vascular dementia
propagates. Hallucination and delusions also characterize
vascular dementia in its late stages (Leatherdale 2013). These
symptoms can be summarized as challenges with short-term
memory, getting lost in familiar areas, crying or laughing at
inappropriate times, challenges in following instructions, a
problem in managing money, problems with planning and
concentrating, delusions, hallucinations, and loss of bowel
control or loss of bladder (Leatherdale 2013). Balancing and
walking can also be problems in the early stages of vascular
dementia.
Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia
Health experts have established that the early occurrence of
vascular dementia is difficult to notice. Therefore, they
recommend that professional screening with brief tests to access
thinking, reasoning, and memory should be conducted for
patients especially the elderly persons who are over 65 years
old who are considered to be at higher risk of developing this
disorder (Mendez et al. 2003). Screening should also be
performed on people who have had stroke or mini-stroke, people
with high HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, high blood
pressure and other risk factors for blood vessel and heart
diseases (Mendez et al. 2003). The health experts also
recommend professional screening for depression since people
with depression are also at higher risks of developing vascular

27. dementia disorder. This is because depression has been found to
coexist with other brain vascular diseases that usually reduce
intelligence and also contributes to other cognitive symptoms
(Mendez et al. 2003). Whenever a brief screening provides hints
on changes in a patient’s reasoning or thinking, a more detailed
screening will be required to perform a thorough diagnosis.
The primary elements in the assessment of vascular dementia
include a proper follow up of a patient’s medical history,
including his or her family history of dementia, assessment of
the patient’s daily activities and independent functions, input
from a trusted friend or family member, tests in the laboratory
that includes brain imaging and blood tests, and in-office
examination evaluating functions of reflexes and nerves,
coordination, sense, balance and movements (Leatherdale
2013). The three key likelihood that dementia or mild cognitive
impairment are as a result of vascular changes includes; if
neurocognitive testing confirms mild cognitive impairment and
diagnosis of dementia (Leatherdale 2013). This is usually
performed for several hours of computerized and written tests
that provide a detailed assessment of certain thinking skills
which include problem-solving, memory, reasoning, planning
and judgment (Leatherdale 2013). Secondly, if the brain
imaging performed by magnetic resonance imaging shows
evidence for a recent case of stroke or changes in the structure
of other blood vessels whose network interfere with the tissues
and they relate to documented types of impairment in
neurocognitive testing (Leatherdale 2013). And lastly, if there
is no proof that the other factors, other than vascular changes,
are causing the decline in a person’s cognitive ability
(Leatherdale 2013).
Treatment and Outcome of Vascular Dementia
Until to date, there is no medical research that has come with
drugs to treat the symptoms of vascular dementia. However,
clinical tests have somehow approved that certain drugs that
treat Alzheimer's disease may also help patients who are

28. diagnosed with vascular dementia. Without curative drugs,
interventions such as managing the risk factors which may
improve the chances of increased damage to the brain’s blood
vessels are important strategies for treating vascular dementia
(Moretti 2006). Clinical tests have proven that treating risk
factors is a sure treatment method that improves the outcome
and prevents further damage to blood vessels in the brain and
reduced intelligence. Every vascular dementia patient has his or
her own way of managing her condition. Therefore, the patients
need to engage and work together with physicians to create the
best treatment plans that best suits a patient for their
circumstances and symptoms (Moretti 2006). Treatment also
involves managing high blood pressure through medication,
diet, and exercise (Moretti 2006). For patients suffering from
diabetes, they should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
Behavioral interventions such as reminders and cues can also
assist in improving the quality of health for vascular dementia
patients. Communication with the vascular dementia patients
should also be improved and made effective like reminding the
patients on dates and the tasks they should be performing at a
given time. Identifying early symptoms of vascular dementia
helps in preventing further damage to the brain and this is the
best treatment method for this condition. Untreated vascular
dementia usually ends up in heart diseases or infections and in
worst conditions like stroke it leads to death.
Computed Tomography Scan for Vascular Dementia
This is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure that works
with the same technology as X-ray; however, it produces more
details of the body internal organs more than X-ray. This
technology is a combination of high computer technology and
special X-ray equipment. CT scan produces cross-sectional
images of the body both vertically and horizontally (Haaga
2009). The images produced can then be displayed and analyzed
through a computer monitor or printed for analysis. CT scan is

29. important in the diagnosis of vascular dementia because it
produces comprehensive images of all bones, body organs,
including the brain, bones, and muscles (Haaga 2009). The
images for blood vessels, internal organs, soft tissues and bones
that are produced by this technology also have high clarity and
provide more details than X-ray can provide. Unlike X-ray, CT
scan is not a risk factor for health and it can be conducted
repeatedly because it minimizes exposure to radiations (Barkhof
2011). Medical experts sometimes inject a dye in a person’s
veins to let the tissues and organs show up more clearly. In CT
scan, the X-ray beam moves all around a patient’s body
(Alzheimer's Society 2011). This is important in the diagnosis
of vascular dementia because it allows a specific organ to be
viewed from different angles. The obtained information is then
transmitted into a computer that interprets the information and
displays the results in a two-dimensional monitor (Alzheimer's
Society 2011). The information obtained from CT scan is easily
interpreted by radiologists who can then easily diagnose
problems such as vascular dementia, musculoskeletal disorders,
trauma and cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis of the chest
using CT scan is important in discovering the early symptoms of
vascular dementia and other chronic diseases. Chest scan can
also be used to visualize the placement of needles during
aspiration of fluids from the chest or during biopsies of thoracic
tumors and organs. This is important for the monitoring of
tumor as it is one of the risk factors for brain damage that also
causes vascular dementia.
Conclusion
Vascular dementia is a condition that is caused when blood
vessels supplying the brain are blocked, narrowed or damaged.
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those of stroke
and Alzheimer’s disease from its onset to late stages. One of the
notable symptoms of this condition is the impairment of
thinking and reasoning capability. These symptoms are as
results of the mild or severe damage of some regions of the

30. brain. Clinical studies have identified that age, gender, and race
are risk factors and causes of vascular dementia. Other risk
factors are obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.
Diagnosis of vascular dementia in patients suffering from
obesity, hypertension, and diabetes is important in discovering
its early signs since the disorders take too long to show its
related symptoms. Brain imaging through CT scan and MRI are
some of the best diagnosis methods for vascular dementia.
Treatment of the condition involves managing risk factors and
health conditions that produce vascular dementia. Managing
high blood pressure, hypertension, and diabetes can effectively
prevent and slow down the propagation of vascular dementia.
References
Alzheimer's Society 2005, Understanding vascular dementia.
London, Alzheimer's
Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2011, Alzheimers society factsheet 402:
what is vascular
dementia? New York, Alzheimer'S Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2013, The Dementia Guide. UK, NHS.
Barkhof, F. 2011, Neuroimaging in dementia. Berlin, Springer.
Bowler, J. V., & Hachinski, V. C. 2003, Vascular cognitive
impairment: preventable
dementia. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Budson, A. E., & Solomon, P. R. 2015, Memory Loss,
Alzheimer's Disease, and
Dementia. New York, Elsevier.
Grotta, J. C. 2016, Stroke: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and
management. Philadelphia,

31. Elsevier Saunders.
Haaga, J. R. 2009, CT and MRI of the whole body. Volume 1
Volume 1. Philadelphia,
PA, Mosby/Elsevier.
Holtz, J. L. 2011, Applied clinical neuropsychology: an
introduction. New York, Springer
Pub. Co.
Leatherdale, L. 2013, Sundown dementia, vascular dementia and
Lewy body dementia:
stages, symptoms, signs, prognosis, diagnosis, treatments,
progression, care
and mood changes all covered. New York, IMB Publishing.
Mendez, M. F., Cummings, J. L., & Cummings, J. L. 2003,
Dementia: a clinical
approach. Amsterdam, Butterworth-Heinemann.
Meyer, J. S. 2001, Vascular dementia. Armonk, NY, Futura Pub.
Co.
Moretti, R. 2006, Subcortical vascular dementia. New York,
Nova Science Publishers.
Sharre, D. 2016, Long-Term Management of Dementia. New
York, CRC.
Wahlund, L.-O., Erkinjuntti, T., & Gauthier, S. 2009, Vascular
cognitive impairment in
clinical practice. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.

32. Vascular Dementia
11
University
Vascular Dementia
<Author>
14 May 2018
<Professor’s name>
<Program of Study
Background
Vascular dementia is among the major causes of dementia in
Western Europe and in the United States. Medical studies also
indicate that it is the leading cause of dementia in Russia,
Japan, and other Eastern countries (Alzheimer's Society 2005).
Vascular dementia is an etiological category of dementia that is
recognized by the severe cognitive impairment that results from
a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke that affects the brain regions
that are responsible for cognition, behavior, and memory. It is
also described as a clinical-pathological condition where the
cerebral lesions of vascular origin cause diverse cognitive
symptoms (Alzheimer's Society 2005). These lesions may
include diffuse leukoencephalothapy, hemorrhages, and infarcts
(Alzheimer's Society 2013).

33. The most recognized vascular pathologies include cerebral
amyloid angiopathy, lipohyalinosis, atherosclerosis, and
arteriolosclerosis (Alzheimer's Society 2013). It is worth noting
that the cortical involvement usually translates into executive
dysfunctions which have been experimented and discovered in
animal models of vascular dementia. Medical studies, however,
have established that a pure form of vascular dementia is a rare
condition. Therefore, most studies usually focus on vascular
contributions to cognitive dementia and impairment. The
mechanisms that underlie the effects of vascular diseases on the
medical manifestations of dementia have not been fully
established, however, it is well known that conditions such as
hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are some risk factors for
dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2013). Medical researchers are
currently facing the challenge of establishing effective
interventions for patients at high risk of developing vascular
dementia which will delay, prevent and ameliorate the
progression of cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Society
2013). This paper, therefore, focuses on describing vascular
dementia by assessing its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and
treatment. It further discusses the role of Computed
Tomography (CT) in treating vascular dementia.
Causes and Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia
Race, gender, and age have been identified as risk factors for
vascular dementia. When compared to Alzheimer’s disease, the
rate of vascular dementia increases exponentially with age,
however, the rate of increase appears to be steeper for vascular
dementia (Meyer 2001). In the case of gender, medical studies
indicate that males are more at risk of getting vascular dementia
than the females (Meyer 2001). Racially, the Blacks seem to be
at higher risk of getting vascular dementia more than people
from other races (Meyer 2001). Medical studies have also
identified a close relationship of stroke risk factors to vascular
dementia risk factor, however, the two conditions and not
identical. Other risk factors for vascular dementia include

34. diabetes mellitus, low HDL cholesterol levels and arterial
hypertension (Meyer 2001).
Vascular dementia occurs when blood vessels supplying the
brain get blocked or narrowed (Wahlund et al. 2009). This
condition has similar risk factors and symptoms as the stroke
that occurs when the supply of blood rich in oxygen to the brain
is suddenly cut off. Medical studies have established that
vascular dementia is created over a long time due to cumulative
vascular damage to the brain (Wahlund et al. 2009). However,
there is no known specific type, size or location of stroke that
predicts the damage to the brain and intellectual decline.
Studies also indicate that observable vascular brain damage
usually occurs in almost half of the population of people who
are above 65 years or the elderly persons (Budson and Solomon
2015). The five key types of vascular brain damage include
hypotensive brain damage, hypertensive changes, ischemic
white matter damage, anoxic brain damage and stroke produced
by atherosclerosis (Budson and Solomon 2015).
Stroke, which is a risk factor for vascular dementia, is produced
by atherosclerosis. This is a disorder that is common in large
diameter blood vessels. Atherosclerosis leads to the hardening
of the arteries and this condition is a common disorder in the
elderly persons above 65 years old (Grotta 2016). The risk
factors for atherosclerosis include diabetes, elevated lipids, and
hypertension. This condition damages the inner layer of large
diameter blood vessels and also causes cholesterol debris to be
deposited in the inner layer of large diameter blood vessels
(Grotta 2016). The resulting bulging effect that is commonly
known as atherosclerosis plagues has adverse health effect like
causing blood clotting that in turn occludes the blood vessels.
Likewise, the fragmented debris resulting from these deposits
can break loose and produce stroke through occluding smaller
diameter blood vessels (Grotta 2016).
Severe heart diseases are also risk factors for vascular
dementia. This is because they produce blood clotting and poor

35. blood flow within heart chambers like ventricles. Fragments
from these clots such as emboli and thrombus can be transported
to the brain and this also produces stroke (Sharre 2016).
Irregular pumping of heart like arrhythmias also sometimes
causes embolic strokes. Long-term suffering from hypertension
produces arteriolosclerosis which is the damage to small
diameter blood vessels. Hypertension usually destroys the
middle layer of small blood vessels (Sharre 2016). The result is
the disintegration of blood vessels and bleeding into the blood
tissues. Arteriolosclerosis also leads to the blockage of the
blood vessels and this creates a small slit-like stroke that is
known as lacunar infarct (Sharre 2016). This condition together
with hemorrhages is common features in patients with untreated
hypertension. Uncontrolled hemorrhage, on the other hand,
usually leads to death.
Vascular dementia is also understood to be caused by the
damage of fragile blood vessels that connect neurons I to the
spinal cord. These fragile blood vessels are easily damaged by
high blood pressure causing white matter abnormalities. Some
of these abnormalities have been given names like
leukoaraiosis, Binswanger’s disease and subcortical arteriolar
sclerotic leukoencephalopathy (Bowler and Hachinski 2003).
Last but not least, low blood flow or low oxygen flow to the
brain produces anoxic brain damage. Neurons usually can only
survive for three minutes without an adequate oxygen supply.
Without enough oxygen and blood flow through the neurons, the
affected person will experience respiratory or cardiac arrest
(Bowler and Hachinski 2003). Damage to brains regions like
hippocampus that cannot survive without oxygen supply usually
produces amnesia which is also a risk factor for vascular
dementia.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
Clinical studies indicate that vascular dementia has similar
symptoms as those of Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms do

36. get more similar as vascular dementia progresses. Important to
note is that the early signs of vascular dementia are not
forgetfulness but they include reduced speed of thought,
concentration problems characterized by short periods of
confusion, and difficulties with organizing or planning like
making consistent decisions (Holtz 2011). A patient with early
symptoms of vascular dementia is usually prone to mood
swings, apathy and being unusually emotional (Holtz 2011).
Sometimes they do develop depression and anxiety since they
become worried about what the vascular dementia is doing to
them. Vascular dementia that follows a serious stroke is usually
characterized by physical symptoms that include problems with
speech or vision, and weakness of the limbs (Holtz 2011). The
early signs of vascular dementia are a result of the damage to
the brain caused by stroke. The symptoms of vascular dementia
begin resembling those of middle and acute stage Alzheimer’s
disease.
The early symptoms get worse as vascular dementia propagates
and problems such as confusion, communication, reasoning,
memory loss, and disorientation become worse. Behavioral
changes such as agitation and irritability that are similar to
Alzheimer’s disease are also witnessed as vascular dementia
propagates. Hallucination and delusions also characterize
vascular dementia in its late stages (Leatherdale 2013). These
symptoms can be summarized as challenges with short-term
memory, getting lost in familiar areas, crying or laughing at
inappropriate times, challenges in following instructions, a
problem in managing money, problems with planning and
concentrating, delusions, hallucinations, and loss of bowel
control or loss of bladder (Leatherdale 2013). Balancing and
walking can also be problems in the early stages of vascular
dementia.
Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia
Health experts have established that the early occurrence of
vascular dementia is difficult to notice. Therefore, they

37. recommend that professional screening with brief tests to access
thinking, reasoning, and memory should be conducted for
patients especially the elderly persons who are over 65 years
old who are considered to be at higher risk of developing this
disorder (Mendez et al. 2003). Screening should also be
performed on people who have had stroke or mini-stroke, people
with high HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, high blood
pressure and other risk factors for blood vessel and heart
diseases (Mendez et al. 2003). The health experts also
recommend professional screening for depression since people
with depression are also at higher risks of developing vascular
dementia disorder. This is because depression has been found to
coexist with other brain vascular diseases that usually reduce
intelligence and also contributes to other cognitive symptoms
(Mendez et al. 2003). Whenever a brief screening provides hints
on changes in a patient’s reasoning or thinking, a more detailed
screening will be required to perform a thorough diagnosis.
The primary elements in the assessment of vascular dementia
include a proper follow up of a patient’s medical history,
including his or her family history of dementia, assessment of
the patient’s daily activities and independent functions, input
from a trusted friend or family member, tests in the laboratory
that includes brain imaging and blood tests, and in-office
examination evaluating functions of reflexes and nerves,
coordination, sense, balance and movements (Leatherdale
2013). The three key likelihood that dementia or mild cognitive
impairment are as a result of vascular changes includes; if
neurocognitive testing confirms mild cognitive impairment and
diagnosis of dementia (Leatherdale 2013). This is usually
performed for several hours of computerized and written tests
that provide a detailed assessment of certain thinking skills
which include problem-solving, memory, reasoning, planning
and judgment (Leatherdale 2013). Secondly, if the brain
imaging performed by magnetic resonance imaging shows
evidence for a recent case of stroke or changes in the structure
of other blood vessels whose network interfere with the tissues

38. and they relate to documented types of impairment in
neurocognitive testing (Leatherdale 2013). And lastly, if there
is no proof that the other factors, other than vascular changes,
are causing the decline in a person’s cognitive ability
(Leatherdale 2013).
Treatment and Outcome of Vascular Dementia
Until to date, there is no medical research that has come with
drugs to treat the symptoms of vascular dementia. However,
clinical tests have somehow approved that certain drugs that
treat Alzheimer's disease may also help patients who are
diagnosed with vascular dementia. Without curative drugs,
interventions such as managing the risk factors which may
improve the chances of increased damage to the brain’s blood
vessels are important strategies for treating vascular dementia
(Moretti 2006). Clinical tests have proven that treating risk
factors is a sure treatment method that improves the outcome
and prevents further damage to blood vessels in the brain and
reduced intelligence. Every vascular dementia patient has his or
her own way of managing her condition. Therefore, the patients
need to engage and work together with physicians to create the
best treatment plans that best suits a patient for their
circumstances and symptoms (Moretti 2006). Treatment also
involves managing high blood pressure through medication,
diet, and exercise (Moretti 2006). For patients suffering from
diabetes, they should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
Behavioral interventions such as reminders and cues can also
assist in improving the quality of health for vascular dementia
patients. Communication with the vascular dementia patients
should also be improved and made effective like reminding the
patients on dates and the tasks they should be performing at a
given time. Identifying early symptoms of vascular dementia
helps in preventing further damage to the brain and this is the
best treatment method for this condition. Untreated vascular
dementia usually ends up in heart diseases or infections and in
worst conditions like stroke it leads to death.

39. Computed Tomography Scan for Vascular Dementia
This is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure that works
with the same technology as X-ray; however, it produces more
details of the body internal organs more than X-ray. This
technology is a combination of high computer technology and
special X-ray equipment. CT scan produces cross-sectional
images of the body both vertically and horizontally (Haaga
2009). The images produced can then be displayed and analyzed
through a computer monitor or printed for analysis. CT scan is
important in the diagnosis of vascular dementia because it
produces comprehensive images of all bones, body organs,
including the brain, bones, and muscles (Haaga 2009). The
images for blood vessels, internal organs, soft tissues and bones
that are produced by this technology also have high clarity and
provide more details than X-ray can provide. Unlike X-ray, CT
scan is not a risk factor for health and it can be conducted
repeatedly because it minimizes exposure to radiations (Barkhof
2011). Medical experts sometimes inject a dye in a person’s
veins to let the tissues and organs show up more clearly. In CT
scan, the X-ray beam moves all around a patient’s body
(Alzheimer's Society 2011). This is important in the diagnosis
of vascular dementia because it allows a specific organ to be
viewed from different angles. The obtained information is then
transmitted into a computer that interprets the information and
displays the results in a two-dimensional monitor (Alzheimer's
Society 2011). The information obtained from CT scan is easily
interpreted by radiologists who can then easily diagnose
problems such as vascular dementia, musculoskeletal disorders,
trauma and cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis of the chest
using CT scan is important in discovering the early symptoms of
vascular dementia and other chronic diseases. Chest scan can
also be used to visualize the placement of needles during
aspiration of fluids from the chest or during biopsies of thoracic
tumors and organs. This is important for the monitoring of

40. tumor as it is one of the risk factors for brain damage that also
causes vascular dementia.
Conclusion
Vascular dementia is a condition that is caused when blood
vessels supplying the brain are blocked, narrowed or damaged.
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those of stroke
and Alzheimer’s disease from its onset to late stages. One of the
notable symptoms of this condition is the impairment of
thinking and reasoning capability. These symptoms are as
results of the mild or severe damage of some regions of the
brain. Clinical studies have identified that age, gender, and race
are risk factors and causes of vascular dementia. Other risk
factors are obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.
Diagnosis of vascular dementia in patients suffering from
obesity, hypertension, and diabetes is important in discovering
its early signs since the disorders take too long to show its
related symptoms. Brain imaging through CT scan and MRI are
some of the best diagnosis methods for vascular dementia.
Treatment of the condition involves managing risk factors and
health conditions that produce vascular dementia. Managing
high blood pressure, hypertension, and diabetes can effectively
prevent and slow down the propagation of vascular dementia.
References
Alzheimer's Society 2005, Understanding vascular dementia.
London, Alzheimer's
Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2011, Alzheimers society factsheet 402:
what is vascular
dementia? New York, Alzheimer'S Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2013, The Dementia Guide. UK, NHS.
Barkhof, F. 2011, Neuroimaging in dementia. Berlin, Springer.

41. Bowler, J. V., & Hachinski, V. C. 2003, Vascular cognitive
impairment: preventable
dementia. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Budson, A. E., & Solomon, P. R. 2015, Memory Loss,
Alzheimer's Disease, and
Dementia. New York, Elsevier.
Grotta, J. C. 2016, Stroke: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and
management. Philadelphia,
Elsevier Saunders.
Haaga, J. R. 2009, CT and MRI of the whole body. Volume 1
Volume 1. Philadelphia,
PA, Mosby/Elsevier.
Holtz, J. L. 2011, Applied clinical neuropsychology: an
introduction. New York, Springer
Pub. Co.
Leatherdale, L. 2013, Sundown dementia, vascular dementia and
Lewy body dementia:
stages, symptoms, signs, prognosis, diagnosis, treatments,
progression, care
and mood changes all covered. New York, IMB Publishing.
Mendez, M. F., Cummings, J. L., & Cummings, J. L. 2003,
Dementia: a clinical
approach. Amsterdam, Butterworth-Heinemann.
Meyer, J. S. 2001, Vascular dementia. Armonk, NY, Futura Pub.
Co.
Moretti, R. 2006, Subcortical vascular dementia. New York,

42. Nova Science Publishers.
Sharre, D. 2016, Long-Term Management of Dementia. New
York, CRC.
Wahlund, L.-O., Erkinjuntti, T., & Gauthier, S. 2009, Vascular
cognitive impairment in
clinical practice. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.
Vascular Dementia
11
University
Vascular Dementia
<Author>
14 May 2018
<Professor’s name>
<Program of Study
Background
Vascular dementia is among the major causes of dementia in
Western Europe and in the United States. Medical studies also

43. indicate that it is the leading cause of dementia in Russia,
Japan, and other Eastern countries (Alzheimer's Society 2005).
Vascular dementia is an etiological category of dementia that is
recognized by the severe cognitive impairment that results from
a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke that affects the brain regions
that are responsible for cognition, behavior, and memory. It is
also described as a clinical-pathological condition where the
cerebral lesions of vascular origin cause diverse cognitive
symptoms (Alzheimer's Society 2005). These lesions may
include diffuse leukoencephalothapy, hemorrhages, and infarcts
(Alzheimer's Society 2013).
The most recognized vascular pathologies include cerebral
amyloid angiopathy, lipohyalinosis, atherosclerosis, and
arteriolosclerosis (Alzheimer's Society 2013). It is worth noting
that the cortical involvement usually translates into executive
dysfunctions which have been experimented and discovered in
animal models of vascular dementia. Medical studies, however,
have established that a pure form of vascular dementia is a rare
condition. Therefore, most studies usually focus on vascular
contributions to cognitive dementia and impairment. The
mechanisms that underlie the effects of vascular diseases on the
medical manifestations of dementia have not been fully
established, however, it is well known that conditions such as
hypertension, obesity, and diabetes are some risk factors for
dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2013). Medical researchers are
currently facing the challenge of establishing effective
interventions for patients at high risk of developing vascular
dementia which will delay, prevent and ameliorate the
progression of cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Society
2013). This paper, therefore, focuses on describing vascular
dementia by assessing its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and
treatment. It further discusses the role of Computed
Tomography (CT) in treating vascular dementia.
Causes and Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia
Race, gender, and age have been identified as risk factors for

44. vascular dementia. When compared to Alzheimer’s disease, the
rate of vascular dementia increases exponentially with age,
however, the rate of increase appears to be steeper for vascular
dementia (Meyer 2001). In the case of gender, medical studies
indicate that males are more at risk of getting vascular dementia
than the females (Meyer 2001). Racially, the Blacks seem to be
at higher risk of getting vascular dementia more than people
from other races (Meyer 2001). Medical studies have also
identified a close relationship of stroke risk factors to vascular
dementia risk factor, however, the two conditions and not
identical. Other risk factors for vascular dementia include
diabetes mellitus, low HDL cholesterol levels and arterial
hypertension (Meyer 2001).
Vascular dementia occurs when blood vessels supplying the
brain get blocked or narrowed (Wahlund et al. 2009). This
condition has similar risk factors and symptoms as the stroke
that occurs when the supply of blood rich in oxygen to the brain
is suddenly cut off. Medical studies have established that
vascular dementia is created over a long time due to cumulative
vascular damage to the brain (Wahlund et al. 2009). However,
there is no known specific type, size or location of stroke that
predicts the damage to the brain and intellectual decline.
Studies also indicate that observable vascular brain damage
usually occurs in almost half of the population of people who
are above 65 years or the elderly persons (Budson and Solomon
2015). The five key types of vascular brain damage include
hypotensive brain damage, hypertensive changes, ischemic
white matter damage, anoxic brain damage and stroke produced
by atherosclerosis (Budson and Solomon 2015).
Stroke, which is a risk factor for vascular dementia, is produced
by atherosclerosis. This is a disorder that is common in large
diameter blood vessels. Atherosclerosis leads to the hardening
of the arteries and this condition is a common disorder in the
elderly persons above 65 years old (Grotta 2016). The risk
factors for atherosclerosis include diabetes, elevated lipids, and

45. hypertension. This condition damages the inner layer of large
diameter blood vessels and also causes cholesterol debris to be
deposited in the inner layer of large diameter blood vessels
(Grotta 2016). The resulting bulging effect that is commonly
known as atherosclerosis plagues has adverse health effect like
causing blood clotting that in turn occludes the blood vessels.
Likewise, the fragmented debris resulting from these deposits
can break loose and produce stroke through occluding smaller
diameter blood vessels (Grotta 2016).
Severe heart diseases are also risk factors for vascular
dementia. This is because they produce blood clotting and poor
blood flow within heart chambers like ventricles. Fragments
from these clots such as emboli and thrombus can be transported
to the brain and this also produces stroke (Sharre 2016).
Irregular pumping of heart like arrhythmias also sometimes
causes embolic strokes. Long-term suffering from hypertension
produces arteriolosclerosis which is the damage to small
diameter blood vessels. Hypertension usually destroys the
middle layer of small blood vessels (Sharre 2016). The result is
the disintegration of blood vessels and bleeding into the blood
tissues. Arteriolosclerosis also leads to the blockage of the
blood vessels and this creates a small slit-like stroke that is
known as lacunar infarct (Sharre 2016). This condition together
with hemorrhages is common features in patients with untreated
hypertension. Uncontrolled hemorrhage, on the other hand,
usually leads to death.
Vascular dementia is also understood to be caused by the
damage of fragile blood vessels that connect neurons I to the
spinal cord. These fragile blood vessels are easily damaged by
high blood pressure causing white matter abnormalities. Some
of these abnormalities have been given names like
leukoaraiosis, Binswanger’s disease and subcortical arteriolar
sclerotic leukoencephalopathy (Bowler and Hachinski 2003).
Last but not least, low blood flow or low oxygen flow to the
brain produces anoxic brain damage. Neurons usually can only

46. survive for three minutes without an adequate oxygen supply.
Without enough oxygen and blood flow through the neurons, the
affected person will experience respiratory or cardiac arrest
(Bowler and Hachinski 2003). Damage to brains regions like
hippocampus that cannot survive without oxygen supply usually
produces amnesia which is also a risk factor for vascular
dementia.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
Clinical studies indicate that vascular dementia has similar
symptoms as those of Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms do
get more similar as vascular dementia progresses. Important to
note is that the early signs of vascular dementia are not
forgetfulness but they include reduced speed of thought,
concentration problems characterized by short periods of
confusion, and difficulties with organizing or planning like
making consistent decisions (Holtz 2011). A patient with early
symptoms of vascular dementia is usually prone to mood
swings, apathy and being unusually emotional (Holtz 2011).
Sometimes they do develop depression and anxiety since they
become worried about what the vascular dementia is doing to
them. Vascular dementia that follows a serious stroke is usually
characterized by physical symptoms that include problems with
speech or vision, and weakness of the limbs (Holtz 2011). The
early signs of vascular dementia are a result of the damage to
the brain caused by stroke. The symptoms of vascular dementia
begin resembling those of middle and acute stage Alzheimer’s
disease.
The early symptoms get worse as vascular dementia propagates
and problems such as confusion, communication, reasoning,
memory loss, and disorientation become worse. Behavioral
changes such as agitation and irritability that are similar to
Alzheimer’s disease are also witnessed as vascular dementia
propagates. Hallucination and delusions also characterize
vascular dementia in its late stages (Leatherdale 2013). These
symptoms can be summarized as challenges with short-term

47. memory, getting lost in familiar areas, crying or laughing at
inappropriate times, challenges in following instructions, a
problem in managing money, problems with planning and
concentrating, delusions, hallucinations, and loss of bowel
control or loss of bladder (Leatherdale 2013). Balancing and
walking can also be problems in the early stages of vascular
dementia.
Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia
Health experts have established that the early occurrence of
vascular dementia is difficult to notice. Therefore, they
recommend that professional screening with brief tests to access
thinking, reasoning, and memory should be conducted for
patients especially the elderly persons who are over 65 years
old who are considered to be at higher risk of developing this
disorder (Mendez et al. 2003). Screening should also be
performed on people who have had stroke or mini-stroke, people
with high HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, high blood
pressure and other risk factors for blood vessel and heart
diseases (Mendez et al. 2003). The health experts also
recommend professional screening for depression since people
with depression are also at higher risks of developing vascular
dementia disorder. This is because depression has been found to
coexist with other brain vascular diseases that usually reduce
intelligence and also contributes to other cognitive symptoms
(Mendez et al. 2003). Whenever a brief screening provides hints
on changes in a patient’s reasoning or thinking, a more detailed
screening will be required to perform a thorough diagnosis.
The primary elements in the assessment of vascular dementia
include a proper follow up of a patient’s medical history,
including his or her family history of dementia, assessment of
the patient’s daily activities and independent functions, input
from a trusted friend or family member, tests in the laboratory
that includes brain imaging and blood tests, and in-office
examination evaluating functions of reflexes and nerves,
coordination, sense, balance and movements (Leatherdale

48. 2013). The three key likelihood that dementia or mild cognitive
impairment are as a result of vascular changes includes; if
neurocognitive testing confirms mild cognitive impairment and
diagnosis of dementia (Leatherdale 2013). This is usually
performed for several hours of computerized and written tests
that provide a detailed assessment of certain thinking skills
which include problem-solving, memory, reasoning, planning
and judgment (Leatherdale 2013). Secondly, if the brain
imaging performed by magnetic resonance imaging shows
evidence for a recent case of stroke or changes in the structure
of other blood vessels whose network interfere with the tissues
and they relate to documented types of impairment in
neurocognitive testing (Leatherdale 2013). And lastly, if there
is no proof that the other factors, other than vascular changes,
are causing the decline in a person’s cognitive ability
(Leatherdale 2013).
Treatment and Outcome of Vascular Dementia
Until to date, there is no medical research that has come with
drugs to treat the symptoms of vascular dementia. However,
clinical tests have somehow approved that certain drugs that
treat Alzheimer's disease may also help patients who are
diagnosed with vascular dementia. Without curative drugs,
interventions such as managing the risk factors which may
improve the chances of increased damage to the brain’s blood
vessels are important strategies for treating vascular dementia
(Moretti 2006). Clinical tests have proven that treating risk
factors is a sure treatment method that improves the outcome
and prevents further damage to blood vessels in the brain and
reduced intelligence. Every vascular dementia patient has his or
her own way of managing her condition. Therefore, the patients
need to engage and work together with physicians to create the
best treatment plans that best suits a patient for their
circumstances and symptoms (Moretti 2006). Treatment also
involves managing high blood pressure through medication,
diet, and exercise (Moretti 2006). For patients suffering from

49. diabetes, they should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
Behavioral interventions such as reminders and cues can also
assist in improving the quality of health for vascular dementia
patients. Communication with the vascular dementia patients
should also be improved and made effective like reminding the
patients on dates and the tasks they should be performing at a
given time. Identifying early symptoms of vascular dementia
helps in preventing further damage to the brain and this is the
best treatment method for this condition. Untreated vascular
dementia usually ends up in heart diseases or infections and in
worst conditions like stroke it leads to death.
Computed Tomography Scan for Vascular Dementia
This is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure that works
with the same technology as X-ray; however, it produces more
details of the body internal organs more than X-ray. This
technology is a combination of high computer technology and
special X-ray equipment. CT scan produces cross-sectional
images of the body both vertically and horizontally (Haaga
2009). The images produced can then be displayed and analyzed
through a computer monitor or printed for analysis. CT scan is
important in the diagnosis of vascular dementia because it
produces comprehensive images of all bones, body organs,
including the brain, bones, and muscles (Haaga 2009). The
images for blood vessels, internal organs, soft tissues and bones
that are produced by this technology also have high clarity and
provide more details than X-ray can provide. Unlike X-ray, CT
scan is not a risk factor for health and it can be conducted
repeatedly because it minimizes exposure to radiations (Barkhof
2011). Medical experts sometimes inject a dye in a person’s
veins to let the tissues and organs show up more clearly. In CT
scan, the X-ray beam moves all around a patient’s body
(Alzheimer's Society 2011). This is important in the diagnosis
of vascular dementia because it allows a specific organ to be
viewed from different angles. The obtained information is then

50. transmitted into a computer that interprets the information and
displays the results in a two-dimensional monitor (Alzheimer's
Society 2011). The information obtained from CT scan is easily
interpreted by radiologists who can then easily diagnose
problems such as vascular dementia, musculoskeletal disorders,
trauma and cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis of the chest
using CT scan is important in discovering the early symptoms of
vascular dementia and other chronic diseases. Chest scan can
also be used to visualize the placement of needles during
aspiration of fluids from the chest or during biopsies of thoracic
tumors and organs. This is important for the monitoring of
tumor as it is one of the risk factors for brain damage that also
causes vascular dementia.
Conclusion
Vascular dementia is a condition that is caused when blood
vessels supplying the brain are blocked, narrowed or damaged.
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those of stroke
and Alzheimer’s disease from its onset to late stages. One of the
notable symptoms of this condition is the impairment of
thinking and reasoning capability. These symptoms are as
results of the mild or severe damage of some regions of the
brain. Clinical studies have identified that age, gender, and race
are risk factors and causes of vascular dementia. Other risk
factors are obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.
Diagnosis of vascular dementia in patients suffering from
obesity, hypertension, and diabetes is important in discovering
its early signs since the disorders take too long to show its
related symptoms. Brain imaging through CT scan and MRI are
some of the best diagnosis methods for vascular dementia.
Treatment of the condition involves managing risk factors and
health conditions that produce vascular dementia. Managing
high blood pressure, hypertension, and diabetes can effectively
prevent and slow down the propagation of vascular dementia.
References
Alzheimer's Society 2005, Understanding vascular dementia.

51. London, Alzheimer's
Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2011, Alzheimers society factsheet 402:
what is vascular
dementia? New York, Alzheimer'S Society.
Alzheimer's Society 2013, The Dementia Guide. UK, NHS.
Barkhof, F. 2011, Neuroimaging in dementia. Berlin, Springer.
Bowler, J. V., & Hachinski, V. C. 2003, Vascular cognitive
impairment: preventable
dementia. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Budson, A. E., & Solomon, P. R. 2015, Memory Loss,
Alzheimer's Disease, and
Dementia. New York, Elsevier.
Grotta, J. C. 2016, Stroke: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and
management. Philadelphia,
Elsevier Saunders.
Haaga, J. R. 2009, CT and MRI of the whole body. Volume 1
Volume 1. Philadelphia,
PA, Mosby/Elsevier.
Holtz, J. L. 2011, Applied clinical neuropsychology: an
introduction. New York, Springer
Pub. Co.
Leatherdale, L. 2013, Sundown dementia, vascular dementia and
Lewy body dementia:
stages, symptoms, signs, prognosis, diagnosis, treatments,

52. progression, care
and mood changes all covered. New York, IMB Publishing.
Mendez, M. F., Cummings, J. L., & Cummings, J. L. 2003,
Dementia: a clinical
approach. Amsterdam, Butterworth-Heinemann.
Meyer, J. S. 2001, Vascular dementia. Armonk, NY, Futura Pub.
Co.
Moretti, R. 2006, Subcortical vascular dementia. New York,
Nova Science Publishers.
Sharre, D. 2016, Long-Term Management of Dementia. New
York, CRC.
Wahlund, L.-O., Erkinjuntti, T., & Gauthier, S. 2009, Vascular
cognitive impairment in
clinical practice. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.