This change can result from a sudden event, such as astroke.
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How Does Vascular Dementia Progress?
Symptoms and Decline
As vascular dementia progresses, symptoms increase and overall functioning further declines.
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This is often referred to as a “step-like progression” or “stepwise” pattern of progression.
In other cases, there’s a less clear trigger for the decline.
Progression is also affected by other brain changes.
For example, some people with vascular dementia also have some evidence of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains.
This is called mixed dementia, and it’s often not discovered until an autopsy after death.
Can Treatment Slow the Stages of Vascular Dementia?
This includes maintaining a healthy blood pressure, exercising regularly,not smoking, and eating ahealthy diet.
National Institutes of Health.
National Institute on Aging.Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia.
2013;(6):CD003260.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003260.pub2
Alzheimer’s Association.Vascular dementia.
2016;20(3):214-226. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2016.01.001
