How do they diagnose vascular dementia?
A person suspected of having vascular dementia will generally have a brain scan to look for any changes that have taken place in the brain. A scan such as CT (computerised tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may rule out a tumour or build-up of fluid inside the brain.
What is the life expectancy of someone with vascular dementia?
On average, people with vascular dementia live for around five years after symptoms begin, less than the average for Alzheimer’s disease. Because vascular dementia shares many of the same risk factors as heart attack and stroke, in many cases, the person’s death will be caused by a stroke or heart attack.
What is the most common cause of vascular dementia?
Vascular dementia is generally caused by conditions that occur most often in older people, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart disease, and stroke. The number of people older than 65 years is increasing. People are living longer with chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Does vascular dementia progress quickly?
Vascular dementia progression can vary with the underlying cause of the disease. When it results from a stroke, symptoms are more likely to begin suddenly. About 20% of people who suffer a stroke will develop vascular dementia within six months.
Do vascular dementia patients sleep a lot?
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Sleeping more and more is a common feature of later-stage dementia. As the disease progresses, the damage to a person’s brain becomes more extensive and they gradually become weaker and frailer over time.
How to diagnose vascular dementia at Mayo Clinic?
Diagnosis 1 Lab tests 2 Neurological exam 3 Brain imaging. Images of your brain can pinpoint visible abnormalities caused by strokes, blood vessel diseases, tumors or trauma that may cause changes in thinking and reasoning. 4 Carotid ultrasound. 5 Neuropsychological tests.
What kind of brain scan is used to diagnose vascular dementia?
Brain-imaging procedures your doctor may recommend to help diagnose vascular dementia include: Computerized tomography (CT) scan. For a CT scan, you’ll lie on a narrow table that slides into a small chamber.
How is vascular dementia different from Alzheimer’s disease?
People with vascular dementia may have an exceptionally hard time analyzing a problem and developing an effective solution. They may be less likely to have trouble learning new information and remembering than are people with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease unless their blood vessel problems affect specific brain regions important for memory.
Are there any new treatments for vascular dementia?
Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Though these haven’t been proved to alter the course of vascular dementia, your doctor will likely recommend that you: