A Guide To The Different Vascular Dementia Stages
You may already be familiar with Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most common forms of dementia, but did you know that there are other types of dementia that can cause similar symptoms? Vascular dementia is one example. This form of dementia is typically caused by problems with the brain’s blood supply.
Vascular dementia can sometimes develop in different stages. Getting familiar with these stages may make it easier to spot early symptoms and understand how the disease looks as it progresses.
Vascular dementia progression and risk factors
Many people may think of dementia as a disease in itself, but it’s really a broad category of conditions that can cause cognition and memory problems. According to the World Health Organization, over 55 million people worldwide are living with some form of dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common.
How blood pressure affects brain and vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is another type of dementia. Unlike Alzheimer’s, which is believed to be caused by a buildup of proteins in the brain, vascular dementia is caused by problems affecting the blood vessels. Blood clots, strokes, and high blood pressure can all cause impaired blood flow to the brain. When brain cells don’t receive enough blood, they can become damaged and eventually die. This can lead to forgetfulness, trouble communicating, personality changes, and other symptoms.
Risk factors of vascular dementia
Beyond age, certain other factors may increase a person’s risk of vascular dementia. These include:
Smoking
Heart disease
Diabetes
An irregular heartbeat
Obesity
A family history of dementia
A lack of exercise
Vascular dementia statistics and life expectancy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vascular dementia makes up around 10% of dementia cases. It tends to mainly affect people over age 65.
The outlook for vascular dementia can depend on the person. However, those with vascular dementia often have a shorter life expectancy than those with Alzheimer’s disease. This may be because vascular dementia often occurs alongside other illnesses, like heart disease.
Different vascular dementia stages: Early signs and symptoms of vascular dementia
Sometimes, vascular dementia develops suddenly—. However, other times, symptoms come on gradually and slowly get worse. Learning about the different stages of vascular dementia may make these symptoms easier to spot.
Early stages symptoms of vascular dementia
Symptoms of dementia may not be noticeable at first. If they are, they may be mild enough not to interfere with daily life. This is considered early-stage dementia. Symptoms at this stage may include:
Losing or misplacing items
Getting lost
Having trouble following complex instructions
Having trouble making decisions
Forgetting the words for things
Showing minor changes in mood or personality
At this stage, a person might have minor problems with their memory. This can sometimes be mistaken for normal forgetfulness (which can be a natural part of aging).
Middle stages symptoms of vascular dementia
Symptoms tend to become more noticeable when a person’s dementia has had time to develop. Some examples of middle-stage symptoms may include:
Depression, anxiety, or more intense mood changes
Delusions or hallucinations
Inappropriate behavior
Trouble recognizing family and friends
Confusion
Trouble remembering information
Trouble following conversations
This is often when dementia patients start to need outside help to manage their daily lives, although some may be able to live on their own with the help of a caregiver.
Late stages symptoms of vascular dementia
In the late stages of dementia, symptoms tend to significantly affect people’s lives. Some examples of late-stage symptoms include:
Being unable to walk, eat, or sit upright
Being unable to control bodily functions
Being unable to communicate
Being unaware of recent events
By this point in the illness, people usually need full-time care, including help with eating, dressing, and going to the bathroom.
Managing the different vascular dementia stages
A vascular dementia diagnosis can be challenging for both the patient and their loved ones. However, it may be possible to slow dementia progression and improve the quality of life for those affected.
Strategies to manage different vascular dementia stages
Although there is currently no cure for dementia, the following strategies may help slow memory loss and support brain health:
Eating a healthy diet rich in low-mercury fish, fruits, and vegetables
Limiting alcohol intake
Getting regular exercise
Maintaining a healthy weight
Maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol and blood sugar
Getting vision and hearing checked
Managing blood pressure to prevent brain vascular dementia
If you have concerns about vascular dementia, you may want to ask your doctor about ways to reduce risk factors and improve certain symptoms. Treating vascular dementia often involves preventing future events that affect blood flow to the brain.
Prescription drugs for vascular dementia
To do this, your doctor might prescribe blood thinners, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or blood pressure medicine. They might also suggest other lifestyle changes to support your cardiovascular health.
Therapy options for vascular dementia treatment
Whether you have vascular dementia or you’re at risk of it, your doctor may also recommend therapy. Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) and cognitive rehabilitation therapy are two options that may help improve concentration, memory, and communication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may also help improve unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. This may be useful if you’re experiencing distress due to a recent diagnosis.
Benefits of finding the right therapist
Finding the right therapist for you may make attending therapy more sustainable, which may be helpful if you’re living with dementia. With online therapy, you can choose a provider based on your needs and change therapists at any time.
Online therapy effectiveness for mood symptoms
Depression and other mood-related symptoms can be common among people with vascular dementia. Research has found that online therapy may be as helpful as in-person therapy for improving these symptoms. In one study published in Frontiers in Psychology, researchers gave 108 people with depression 12 weeks of either in-person or online therapy. Online therapy led to similar improvements as in-person therapy in symptoms and quality of life.
Takeaway
Dementia refers to a condition that can affect memory, thinking, mood, and more. One example is vascular dementia, which is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the brain. Sometimes the symptoms start suddenly, but they may also appear in stages. Early-stage dementia can cause mild changes in mood and memory. Middle-stage dementia can cause more intense symptoms, such as delusions or difficulty recognizing loved ones, and these symptoms typically get worse over time. By the final stage, people with dementia often need ongoing care.
Living a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet and plenty of exercise may support memory and help reduce risk factors for vascular dementia, such as diabetes and obesity. Other treatment options, such as medication and therapy, may help improve quality of life for people with vascular dementia, as well as their caregivers. If you are experiencing symptoms of dementia or are concerned about a loved one, it may help to connect with a therapist, whether in person or online. Take the first step toward getting help with the various stages of dementia and reach out to BetterHelp today.
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