Dementia, Vascular

Birju B. Patel, MD, FACP, AGSF and N. Wilson Holland, MD, FACP Reviewed 06/2019

BASICS

Vascular dementia is a heterogeneous disorder caused by the sequel of cerebrovascular disease that manifests in cognitive impairment affecting memory, thinking, language, behavior, and judgment...

DIAGNOSIS

Differentiation between Alzheimer dementia and vascular dementia can be difficult, and significant overlap is seen in the clinical presentation of these two dementias. The diagnosis of vascu...

TREATMENT

Prevention is the real key to treatment:

Control of risk factors, including HTN, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes
Avoidance of tobacco and smoking cessation
Healthy, low-cholesterol diet

MEDICATION

ONGOING CARE

Vascular dementia is a condition that should be followed with multiple visits in the office setting with goals of optimizing cardiovascular risk profiles for patients. Future planning and...

REFERENCES

Kalaria RN. The pathology and pathophysiology of vascular dementia. Neuropharmacology. 2018;134(Pt B):226–239. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

Dichgans M, Leys D. Vascular cognitive i...

ADDITIONAL READING

Eizaguirre NO, Rementeria GP, González-Torres M, et al. Updates in vascular dementia. Heart Mind. 2017;1(1):22–35. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

CODES

ICD10

F01.50 Vascular dementia without behavioral disturbance
F01.51 Vascular dementia with behavioral disturbance

ICD9

290.40 Vascular dementia, uncomplicated
290.41 Vascular dementia, with delirium
...

CLINICAL PEARLS

Executive dysfunction and gait abnormalities are often seen early and are more pronounced in vascular dementia as opposed to Alzheimer dementia.
Memory is relatively preserved in vascul...

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