Vascular Dementia — Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care

While most of us are familiar with Alzheimer’s disease, there are other less common forms of dementia with one of those being vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is a general term describing problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes. It is often caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to the brain like during a stroke, but thankfully it depends on the location and severity of the stroke damage. Other conditions that can harm blood vessels, reduce circulation, and deprive the brain of oxygen and nutrients, are a brain hemorrhage caused by things like high blood pressure as well as abnormal aging of blood vessels (atherosclerosis) and diabetes.

The Mayo Clinic explains vascular dementia can imitate many of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease but the biggest difference of vascular dementia is people suffer a greater loss in the speed of organizing thoughts and problem-solving rather than actual memory loss. The condition can come on suddenly such as after an event like a stroke or as a more gradual decline like Alzheimer’s. Researchers also have found many people with telltale signs of brain vascular disease also have Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms of vascular disease include things like:

Confusion
Trouble paying attention and concentrating
Reduced ability to organize thoughts or actions
Decline in ability to analyze a situation, develop an effective plan and communicate that plan to others
Slowed thinking
Difficulty with organization
Difficulty deciding what to do next
Problems with memory
Restlessness, agitation and depression
Unsteady gait

The condition is rare in those under 65 and increases significantly in those over 90 years of age. To mitigate your risk, doctors say maintain a healthy blood pressure, keep weight and cholesterol in check and prevent or manage diabetes. If you smoke, quit; and engage in regular physical activity. A healthy low-fat diet also is a factor in preventing heart disease and strokes, which in turn helps prevent vascular dementia.

For the area’s finest senior living, we encourage you to take a look at MorningStar of Beaverton. We offer seniors carefree independent living and assisted living with a choice of smartly-designed suites, luxury amenities, and wellness programs and activities. Our distinct Reflections Neighborhood provides memory care families have come to count on for their loved ones. Contact us to set up a personalized tour to see firsthand our gorgeous retirement communities.