Doctronic navigation menu Log In
Doctronic navigation menu

Contents
  • Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Diseases
  • The Role of Small Vessel Disease
  • Other Contributing Factors

What Really Causes Vascular Dementia?

What Really Causes Vascular Dementia?

What's This About?

Vascular dementia is driven by underlying conditions affecting blood vessels in the brain. Understanding these causes is key to prevention and treatment.
Contents
  • Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Diseases
  • The Role of Small Vessel Disease
  • Other Contributing Factors

Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Diseases

Vascular dementia arises from conditions like ischemic stroke and small vessel disease, which impair blood flow to the brain. These disruptions can lead to brain ischemia, causing cognitive decline. Cardiovascular issues, such as embolism, also contribute significantly.

The Role of Small Vessel Disease

Small vessel disease is a major contributor to vascular dementia, often going unnoticed until brain imaging is done. It involves changes in small arteries and arterioles, leading to brain damage. This condition is more common than previously thought.
Vascular dementia is a type of cognitive decline caused by conditions that block or reduce blood flow to the brain, such as ischemic stroke and small vessel disease.

Other Contributing Factors

Conditions like cerebral amyloid angiopathy also play a role. This involves the accumulation of proteins in brain vessels, affecting their integrity. Genetic disorders and inflammatory diseases can also lead to small vessel disease, contributing to dementia.

FAQs

What causes vascular dementia?

Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases cause it.

How does small vessel disease contribute?

It involves changes in small brain vessels, leading to damage.

Can genetics play a role?

Yes, genetic disorders can contribute to small vessel disease.

Is embolism a cause too?

Yes, embolism from the heart can lead to vascular dementia.

Key Takeaways

Knowing the causes of vascular dementia helps in managing and preventing it.
Learn about the causes of vascular dementia by chatting with Doctronic today.
Additional References
  1. Iadecola C. The pathobiology of vascular dementia. Neuron 2013; 80:844.
  2. Pantoni L. Cerebral small vessel disease: clinical characteristics and therapeutic challenges. Lancet Neurol 2010; 9:689.
  3. Revesz T, Holton JL, Lashley T, et al. Genetics of cerebral amyloid angiopathies. Acta Neuropathol 2009; 118:115.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.