Causes of Vascular Dementia and the Difference with Alzheimer's

The disease that is often associated with the elderly is dementia or decreased brain function. Alzheimer's disease is sometimes considered a cause of dementia, even though there are still other causes of dementia.

One type of dementia, namely vascular dementia is not triggered by Alzheimer's disease and is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease.
Causes of vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is a condition of damage to blood vessels in the brain resulting in reduced brain function to supply oxygen and nutrients effectively. Damage to blood vessels can be in the form of obstruction or rupture of blood vessels.

One of the things that can trigger this condition is a stroke. Strokes that cause blockages in arteries can trigger vascular dementia. Sometimes the symptoms of stroke are also not felt and actually increase the risk of vascular dementia.

Some conditions such as premature aging of blood vessels (atherosclerosis), diabetes, bleeding in the brain, aging, and high blood pressure can cause narrowing of the arteries or cause long-term damage to blood vessels in the brain.

Signs of vascular dementia

Symptoms of vascular dementia are very dependent on which areas of the brain are damaged in their blood vessels. Symptoms of vascular dementia will be very apparent if vascular dementia is caused by a stroke.

Some signs of vascular dementia are anxiety, memory problems, depression or apathy, difficulty in deciding what to do, unbalanced walking, and reduced ability to regulate thought and behavior.

Another decrease experienced is a decrease in the ability to analyze the situation, develop an effective plan, and communicate the plan to others.

In addition, sufferers may experience a sudden and frequent urge to urinate or are unable to resist urinating, difficulty in concentrating and focusing, and feel confused.
Vascular dementia versus Alzheimer's disease

The two conditions are almost the same and sometimes even appear together. However, the causes of the two are different.

Vascular dementia is caused by damage to blood vessels, while Alzheimer's disease may be caused by damage and death of brain cells due to the presence of beta-amyloid plaques that appear between cells or because of tangling Tau proteins in cells.

Based on the development of the disorder, vascular dementia can develop gradually like Alzheimer's disease. However, generally the decline in cognitive function in vascular dementia can be seen immediately and can occur after a stroke.

Alzheimer's disease is more gradual and indirectly coincides with physical difficulties. In people with vascular dementia, physical difficulties are usually felt accompanied by a decline in cognitive function.
What can increase the risk of vascular dementia?
You are more likely to develop vascular dementia as you get older. Vascular dementia at the age under 65 years is something that rarely happens. Some medical conditions can increase your risk of developing vascular dementia.

Medical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal aging of blood vessels (atherosclerosis), abnormal heart rate (atrial fibrillation), and obesity can increase your chances of developing vascular dementia.

If you have had a stroke, heart attack or mild stroke, your risk of developing vascular dementia increases. Likewise if you smoke, because smoking can damage blood vessels.

Is there a way to treat vascular dementia?

While this is not a treatment for vascular dementia, there are treatments to prevent vascular dementia from getting worse. Some medications or drugs are only given to ease the symptoms or physical and emotional effects caused by vascular dementia.

In addition, lifestyle changes and environmental modification at home can help relieve symptoms experienced by people with vascular dementia and help sufferers to move. Some therapies can also help sufferers to continue their lives, such as:

Physiotherapy for difficulty in moving
Psychological therapy to stimulate the cognitive function of sufferers
Occupational therapy to help sufferers do practical things, in the form of changing clothes, and so on
Relaxation such as massage therapy and so on
Language therapy to improve patient communication skills

Prevention of vascular dementia

Prevention of vascular dementia can be done by stopping smoking, exercising, preventing and controlling diabetes, maintaining normal blood pressure, and checking cholesterol levels.

Basically, prevention of vascular dementia can also prevent the onset of disease in your heart.