Vascular dementia is a decline in thinking skills caused by conditions that block or reduce blood flow to various regions of the brain, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients.

About vascular dementia

Diagram of blood flow through the brainInadequate blood flow can damage and eventually kill cells anywhere in the body, but the brain is especially vulnerable.

In vascular dementia, changes in thinking skills sometimes occur suddenly after a stroke, which blocks major blood vessels in the brain. Thinking difficulties may also begin as mild changes that gradually worsen as a result of multiple minor strokes or another condition that affects smaller blood vessels, leading to widespread damage. A growing number of experts prefer the term “vascular cognitive impairment” (VCI) to “vascular dementia” because they feel it better expresses the concept that vascular thinking changes can range from mild to severe.

Vascular brain changes often coexist with changes linked to other types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Several studies have found that vascular changes and other brain abnormalities may interact in ways that increase the likelihood of dementia diagnosis. Sign up for our e-news to receive updates about Alzheimer’s and dementia care and research.

Other dementias share some common symptoms

Vascular changes that start in brain areas that play a key role in storing and retrieving information may cause memory loss that looks very much like Alzheimer's disease.

About 5% to 10% of people with dementia have vascular dementia alone. It is more common as a part of mixed dementia. Many experts believe that vascular dementia remains underdiagnosed — like Alzheimer's disease — even though it's recognized as common.

Learn more: Key Types of Dementia, Mixed Dementia

Symptoms

The impact of vascular conditions on thinking skills varies widely, depending on the severity of the blood vessel damage and the part of the brain it affects. Memory loss may or may not be a significant symptom depending on the specific brain areas where blood flow is reduced. Vascular damage that starts in the brain areas that play a key role in storing and retrieving information may cause memory loss that is very similar to Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms may be most obvious when they happen soon after a major stroke. Sudden post-stroke changes in thinking and perception may include:

  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • Physical stroke symptoms, such as a
    sudden headache
  • Difficulty walking
  • Poor balance
  • Numbness or paralysis on one side of the face or the body

Multiple small strokes or other conditions that affect blood vessels and nerve fibers deep inside the brain may cause more gradual thinking changes as damage accumulates. Common early signs of widespread small vessel disease include impaired planning and judgment, uncontrolled laughing and crying, declining ability to pay attention, impaired function in social situations, and difficulty finding the right words.

Learn more: Warning Signs from the American Stroke Association

Diagnosis

Diagnostic guidelines for vascular dementia have used a range of definitions for dementia and various approaches to diagnosis. In 2011, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association issued a joint scientific statement on vascular contributions to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association participated in developing the statement, which is also endorsed by the American Academy of Neurology. The goals of the statement, which include practice recommendations, are to raise awareness of the importance of vascular factors in cognitive change, increase diagnostic consistency and accelerate research.

Under the diagnostic approach recommended in the 2011 statement, the following criteria suggest the greatest likelihood of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia is caused by vascular changes: 

  1. The diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment is confirmed by neurocognitive testing, which involves several hours of written or computerized tests that provide detailed evaluation of specific thinking skills such as judgment, planning, problem-solving, reasoning and memory.
  2. There is brain imaging evidence, usually with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), confirming:
    • A recent stroke, or
    • Other vascular brain changes whose severity and pattern of affected tissue are consistent with the types of impairment documented in cognitive testing.
  3. There is no evidence that nonvascular factors may be contributing to cognitive decline.

The statement also details variations in these criteria that may suggest a possibility rather than a strong likelihood that cognitive change is due to vascular factors.

Because vascular dementia often goes unrecognized, many experts recommend professional cognitive screening for everyone considered to be at high risk, including those who have had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a ministroke, or who have risk factors for heart or blood vessel disease. Professional screening for depression is also recommended for high-risk groups. Depression commonly coexists with brain vascular disease and can contribute to cognitive impairment.

Learn more: AHA/ASA Scientific Statement: Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, Mixed Dementia


Causes and risks

Any condition that damages blood vessels anywhere in the body can cause brain changes linked to vascular dementia. As with Alzheimer’s disease, advancing age is a major risk factor.

Additional risk factors for vascular dementia coincide with those that increase risk for heart disease, stroke and other conditions affecting blood vessels. Many of these factors are also linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s.

The following strategies may reduce the risk of developing diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels — and may help protect the brain:

  • Don't smoke.
  • Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar within recommended limits.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
  • Exercise.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Limit alcohol consumption.

Learn more: Brain Health


Treatment and outcomes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any drugs specifically to treat symptoms of vascular dementia, but there is evidence from clinical trials that drugs approved to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms may also offer a modest benefit in people with vascular dementia. Treatment primarily works to prevent the worsening of vascular dementia by treating the underlying disease, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes mellitus.

Controlling risk factors that may increase the likelihood of further damage to the brain’s blood vessels is an important treatment strategy. There’s substantial evidence that treatment of risk factors may improve outcomes and help postpone or prevent further decline.

Individuals should work with their physicians to develop the best treatment plan for their symptoms and circumstances.

Like other types of dementia, vascular dementia shortens life span. Some data suggest that those who develop dementia following a stroke survive an average of three years. As with other stroke symptoms, cognitive changes may sometimes improve during recovery and rehabilitation from the acute phase of a stroke as the brain generates new blood vessels and brain cells outside the damaged region take on new roles.

Learn more: Clinical Studies for Dementia

Help is available

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you are not alone. The Alzheimer's Association is one of the most trusted resources for information, education, referral and support for Alzheimer's and other types of dementia.