If you’re noticing signs of vascular dementia, then it’s important to see your GP as soon as possible. They can help you to get a diagnosis and decide what treatment may be best for you.
How is vascular dementia diagnosed?
Tests
Your GP will talk to you and do some tests to see what may be causing your symptoms. It’s probably a good idea to take a friend or family member with you if you can, to help you answer your GP’s questions. They may have noticed symptoms you’re not aware of, or may be able to say how long you’ve had them.
If they cannot come with you, it may be helpful for them to write down everything they have noticed. You can show this to your GP.
To rule out any other causes of memory problems, your GP is likely to:
- Talk to you about your symptoms.
- Go through your medical history to see if you have any conditions linked to vascular dementia, like heart problems, high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Perform a brief memory test.
- Ask you some questions about your mood.
- With your permission, speak to your friend or family member about any changes they may have noticed.
- Take some blood or a urine sample. This is to check for other problems that could be causing your symptoms, such as an infection, thyroid problems, diabetes or low levels of vitamins.
- Look at the medication you’re taking. It’s a good idea to bring a list of all the medications, vitamins and supplements you take, including those prescribed by your doctor and the ones you buy yourself.
Referral
Your GP may refer you to a stroke clinic, a dementia specialist or a memory clinic for an assessment. This could be led by:
- An old-age psychiatrist (a doctor who specialises in mental health conditions of older people).
- A geriatrician (a doctor who specialises in the health of older people).
- A neurologist (a doctor who specialises in the way the brain works).
- A psychologist (a non-medical clinician who specialises in thinking and feelings).
- A specialist nurse.
Your specialist will carry out further tests:
- They will ask you questions about your memory and thinking and how you’re managing with day-today activities.
- They may ask you to do some memory and thinking tests. These tests are designed to be challenging. Don’t worry if you find them difficult. They help the clinician work out what is wrong, and the particular areas of thinking or memory that are affected.
- They may also arrange for you to have a brain scan, so they can check for damage to your brain, or if they’re unsure which type of dementia you may have.
- If possible, they will also ask if they can talk to people close to you about symptoms they have been noticing.
Worried about problems with memory and thinking?
It’s important to remember problems with memory and thinking are not always due to dementia. If you have any concerns about your memory, visit your GP.
Are there treatments for vascular dementia?
At the moment, we do not have a treatment that cures vascular dementia. But there are treatments to help with many of the symptoms of dementia and reduce the impact.
You should be supported to reduce your risk of having further strokes or silent strokes. This may include:
Treating the symptoms of vascular dementia
How vascular dementia symptoms change over time is different for everyone. Symptoms may stay the same for months or even years. They can worsen gradually, or there can be periods where symptoms may suddenly get worse. Although your dementia will not get any better, it may be possible to slow down how quickly it progresses.
Vascular dementia can cause problems like depression, anxiety and falls. The stroke or dementia team can work with you to get help for many of these problems.
Medication
Sometimes medication may be used to improve your mood if you are feeling very down or depressed. Medication can also help with some of the problems seen in advanced vascular dementia. Your doctor will talk to you about the options available.
Rehabilitation therapy
Memory and stroke services often have a team of experts that can help with various dementia problems.
- If your dementia is causing physical problems, such as falls, then you may be able to work with a physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
- A speech and language therapist may be able to help you with any communication problems you’re having.
- An occupational therapist can work with you to make sure you can be as independent as possible.
Other forms of therapy and support for wellbeing
You should be offered some support to stay independent, help you live well with dementia and develop your memory and concentration. Some therapies and activities may help some people with mild to moderate dementia. These can vary by where you live, but may include:
- Cognitive stimulation therapy: group activity sessions, designed to improve your mental abilities.
- Cognitive rehabilitation: working with an occupational therapist or psychologist to achieve a goal, such as learning how to use a smartphone.
- Reminiscence and life story work: talking about or making a record of things from your past, with support from others and props like photos or familiar objects.
Frequently asked questions
Currently, there are no medications used just for vascular dementia. There are two main types of medication for Alzheimer’s disease, which can be offered to someone who has vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease together (a type of mixed dementia). These are a class of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors (AChE inhibitors), and a drug called memantine.
Long-term use of some types of medication may cause problems with memory and thinking. They may slow down some of the chemical signals in your brain, so if you have any cognitive problems, it may sometimes make these worse.
The impact on brain chemicals is known as an ‘anticholinergic effect’. Several types of medication have an anticholinergic effect. They include some types of strong antihistamines, anti-depressants and muscle relaxants. They are used in treatments for conditions like allergies, depression, insomnia, and bladder and bowel problems.
The effect of each medication varies between individuals and also depends on how long you use them. Your GP, dementia specialist or pharmacist can help you understand the pros and cons of any treatment you need.
Don’t stop taking any medication without speaking to your GP or another healthcare professional.