VASCULAR Dementia is a common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Signs can include a sudden urge to urinate, and changes in mood. The Mayo Clinic says vascular dementia symptoms vary, depending on the part of your brain where blood flow is impaired. Its signs and symptoms can include a “sudden or frequent urge to urinate or inability to control passing urine,” it adds.
Other symptoms of Vascular Dementia according to the Mayo Clinic: Confusion, Trouble paying attention and concentrating, Reduced ability to organize thoughts or actions, Decline in ability to analyze a situation, develop an effective plan and communicate that plan to others, Slowed thinking.
Difficulty with organizing, Difficulty deciding what to do next, Problems with memory, Restlessness and agitation, Unsteady gait, Depression or apathy
Vascular dementia tends to get worse over time, although it's sometimes possible to slow it down.
There is currently no cure for vascular dementia and there's no way to reverse any loss of brain cells that happened before the condition was diagnosed. But treatment can sometimes help slow down vascular dementia. Treatment aims to tackle the underlying cause, which may reduce the speed at which brain cells are lost.
Vascular dementia will usually get worse over time. This can happen in sudden steps, with periods in between where the symptoms do not change much, but it's difficult to predict when this will happen.
The Alzheimer's Society (AS) explains: “Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood supply to the brain due to diseased blood vessels. To be healthy and function properly, brain cells need a constant supply of blood to bring oxygen and nutrients. Blood is delivered to the brain through a network of vessels called the vascular system.”
The AS says if the vascular system within the brain becomes damaged - so that the blood vessels leak or become blocked - then blood cannot reach the brain cells and they will eventually die.
This death of brain cells can cause problems with memory, thinking or reasoning.
Together these three elements are known as cognition. When these cognitive problems are bad enough to have a significant impact on daily life, this is known as vascular dementia.
Until next time, Stay Safe and Stay Healthy
James A Vito, D.M.D.