Changes in Emotional Responses May Be Early Signs of Vascular Dementia

What is Vascular Dementia?

Vascular dementia is a common type of dementia associated with deterioration in cognitive functions due to the reduction of blood supply to the brain, depriving the brain of oxygen and nutrients.

One of the common symptoms of vascular dementia is the changes in emotional responses because the part of the brain that is responsible for attention, memory, and language has been affected. The consciousness, however, is not affected.

Due to the damage that occurred in a person's brain, people with dementia will often exhibit changes in emotional responses. They may show lesser control in their feelings and differ in the way they normally express them, which can be frustrating for caregivers.

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What Causes It?

A stroke occurs when there is an interrupted blood supply to the brain, however, not all strokes can cause vascular dementia, it also depends on its location and severity. Multiple small strokes, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and other conditions that can affect blood vessels and nerve fibers deep inside the brain can cause more gradual thinking changes as damage accumulates.

Alzheimer's Research UK has shown how brain scans can help detect and diagnose vascular dementia as  CT (computerized tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans are able to locate hardened blood vessels in the brain. According to Alzheimer's Research UK, around one in five people who had a stroke can develop dementia.

Caring for someone with vascular dementia can be overwhelming due to the lack of awareness and stigmatization surrounding this illness. The impact of dementia on the caregivers and family can be widely-ranged, from physical, psychological, social, and even economic aspects.

Prevention and Treatment

The brain damage that causes vascular dementia is irreversible and tends to get worse over time, but it is possible to slow down the progression of the disease especially when detected at an early stage. There is currently no cure available for vascular dementia as there's no way to repair the loss of brain cells that occur before being diagnosed with the condition. Treatment is aimed at reducing the speed at which brain cells are lost which can help slow down the progression of vascular dementia. Since overall heart health can affect the health of your brain's blood vessels, keeping your heart healthy may reduce the risk of developing vascular dementia.

(Photo: pixabay)

Caring for Someone With Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia usually gets worse over time and can significantly shorten life expectancy. It is recommended for family members caring for someone with dementia to seek out counseling from local groups to be able to have someone to talk to about it. As most people experience dementia in a different way, it is important to celebrate small successes and offer praise and encouragement for any positive signs and avoid belittling comments. Encourage these patients to continue maintaining their social relationships and form new ones so that there would be less time to dwell on what's to come.

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