When people say “dementia,” they’re generally talking about “Alzheimer’s disease.” This makes sense, considering that 60 to 80 percent of individuals with dementia have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. However, 5 to 10 percent of individuals with dementia have a form called vascular dementia. Although vascular dementia shares many common symptoms to Alzheimer’s disease, they are two completely separate forms of the disease.
“Vascular dementia very often develops following a stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain, although that’s not the only way it can develop,” says Erica Labb, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Westford. “Like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia affects memory, planning, reasoning, judgement and other thought processes. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, the way that vascular dementia presents itself during the onset of the disease depends on what part of the brain has been damaged.”
How Are Strokes and Vascular Dementia Connected?
Vascular dementia is caused by damage that occurs to the brain due to reduced or restricted blood flow. This can be caused by a number of things, such as arterial disease or small vessel disease, but the majority of the time, vascular dementia occurs following a stroke or a series of ministrokes (tiny strokes that someone may not even notice having).
While vascular dementia is a common post-stroke problem, having a stroke doesn’t necessarily mean you’re at risk for or will develop vascular dementia. A lot depends on where the stroke occurs, how severe it is, as well as your sex, age and family history.
The Different Types of Vascular Dementia
There are four distinct types of vascular dementia that an individual can experience. Each of these types occur in different parts of the brain and result from different types of damage. Between the types, symptoms can vary and also progress in different ways.
- Single-infarct vascular dementia. An infarction occurs when an area of cells dies due to lack of blood supply. An infarct refers to an area of cells that has died from a lack of blood supply. Oftentimes, this form of vascular dementia occurs following one large or major stroke.
- Multi-infarct vascular dementia. This type of dementia occurs when many tiny spots of damage occur throughout the brain due to ministrokes. Because the damage starts off so small, this can be a more progressive form of vascular dementia.
- Subcortical vascular dementia. Subcortical dementia is caused by small vessel disease. This form of dementia occurs deep in the brain when tiny arteries become completely blocked.
- Mixed dementia. To make matters even more confusing, a person with vascular dementia can also be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. One of the two forms of dementia will be more apparent than the other, and the dominant type will affect the course of treatment.
Risk Factors of Vascular Dementia
Generally, the risk factors that increase your risk for stroke and heart disease are the same for vascular dementia. Here are some of the risks that increase your chance of developing this form of dementia:
- Getting older. Your chance of developing vascular dementia increases once you hit 65, and increases substantially by the time you’re 90.
- Having a history of poor heart health. If you’ve experienced a heart attack, a stroke or a series of ministrokes, you may be at increased risk of having issues with the blood vessels in your brain.
- Being diagnosed with atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition where your blood vessels age abnormally due to deposits of plaque and cholesterol that build up in your arteries, narrowing your blood vessels and reducing the blood flow to your brain.
- Having high cholesterol or blood pressure. High levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) can increase your risk of vascular dementia, and if you have high blood pressure, your blood vessels are under an extra stress.
- Diabetes. High glucose levels can damage blood vessels throughout your body.
- Smoking. Smoking is incredibly detrimental to our cardiovascular system and directly damages blood vessels, increases your risk of circulatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and can cause certain cancers.
- Being overweight. Carrying around extra weight puts stress on your entire body and is well-recognized as a risk factor for a variety of diseases (including diabetes, heart disease and others) – many of which are associated with vascular dementia.
- Having an abnormal heart rhythm, or atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is when your heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly and rapidly and get out of synch with your heart’s lower chambers. This can cause blood clots to form, which can travel through the arteries and lodge in the brain, causing a stroke.
Tips for Reducing Your Risk of Vascular Dementia
Following the same tips that keep your heart healthy will help reduce your risk of vascular dementia. Here are the best steps you can take to make sure you’re doing what’s best for your body.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy blood pressure, as this can prevent a variety of heart and brain diseases.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats and healthy fats.
- If you have diabetes, take steps to control your glucose levels.
- Quit smoking.
- Get regular amounts of physical exercise, which has overall health benefits – not the least of which is helping reduce your risk of developing vascular dementia.
- Watch your cholesterol, as this can be a risk factor for strokes.
Comprehensive Services
At Bridges® by EPOCH at Westford, we know no two residents are alike. That’s why we’ve designed our services to address the distinct challenges each resident faces. With comfort, safety and happiness as our top priorities, residents receive unmatched personalized attention, no matter the stage of memory loss.
Community Amenities
Bridges® by EPOCH at Westford features a beautiful residential design. Every inch has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the lives of those with memory loss. Soft colors, directional cues, aromatherapy and interactive life stations are placed throughout the community to create a peaceful and secure environment so residents may enjoy great comfort, familiarity and security.
Contact us today to learn more.