Vascular dementia WARNING signs: You should never ignore these nine symptoms
VASCULAR dementia is the second most common type of dementia, and affects 150,000 people in there UK. To coincide with Dementia Awareness Week, these are the symptoms you shouldn’t miss.
Vascular dementia: The second most common form of dementia
Vascular dementia is triggered by reduced blood flow to the brain, which damages and eventually kills the brain cells.
The debilitating condition tends to affect those over the age of 65.
There are a number of reasons why it happens, including a narrowing of blood vessels deep inside the brain, a stroke or lots of “mini strokes” known as multi-infarct dementia.
You’re more at risk if you have high blood pressure, smoke, eat an unhealthy diet, have high blood cholesterol, do lack of exercise and are overweight.
Older age: Tends to affect those over 65years
Vascular dementia lasts on average about five years after symptoms start, and sufferers are most likely to die from a stroke or heart attack.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, the condition lasts on average about five years after symptoms start, and sufferers are most likely to die from a stroke or heart attack.
Symptoms can begin suddenly, or slowly over time.
Treatment can help slow the progression of the condition, so it’s best to spot it as soon as possible.
There are a number of early and later signs to be aware of.
Symptoms to know: There are early and late signs
Early sign: slowness of thought
This may get progressively worse as the condition advances.
Early sign: difficulty with planning and speech
Sufferers may have trouble understanding or making simple plans and solving problems.
They may also have issues with memory and language - speech may become less fluent - like those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Indeed, many people with vascular dementia also have Alzheimer’s.
Early sign: problems with concentration
This can include sudden periods of confusion.
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Early sign: mood changes
You may start to notice an alteration in their personality or behaviour, including increased aggression.
Beware that it may be easy to mistake subtle changes for something else, such as depression.
However, often sufferers do develop anxiety and depression, possibly because they are aware of the difficulties the condition is causing.
Later sign: significant slowness of thought
Their thought process will slow down even further.
Later sign: feeling disoriented and confused
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, over time a sufferer is likely to develop more serious confusion or disorientation.
Significant signs: Include memory loss and mood changes
Later sign: memory loss
Sufferers may start to appear like they have difficulty concentrating and finding the right words.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, this is common in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, but is not normally a main early symptom in vascular dementia.
However, later on they might find it difficult to remember recent events or names.
Later sign: increasing difficulty with daily activities
They might start finding it difficult to walk and stay balanced, resulting in frequent falls.
Sufferers might also experience loss of bladder control.
It might mean they may be eventually unable to look after themselves, requiring help with eating, for instance.
Later sign: personality changes
Sufferers may become more prone to rapid mood swings and be generally more emotional.
They might also develop behaviours which seem unusual or out of character, including irritability, agitation, aggressive behaviour and a disturbed sleep pattern.