If you are worried about vascular dementia or know someone who is, this information can help you understand what you need to do. It explains what vascular dementia is and how it is linked to stroke. It also explains what you can do if you are diagnosed with vascular dementia.
There is information for family and friends as well. Access the information in this section in alternative formats.
You do not have to read all of this information in one go. You might find it helpful to read it and talk through it with someone you trust.
Dementia is a condition that can affect your memory, thinking, communication, mood and behaviour. It happens when parts of your brain become damaged by diseases such as stroke or Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia often gets worse over time.
What is vascular dementia?
Vascular dementia is one of the main types of dementia (about 15% of cases).
Vascular dementia happens when the blood supply to parts of your brain is reduced. This can be due to problems with blood flow, or problems with brain blood vessels. Over time, areas of the brain stop working, leading to problems with memory and thinking.
Most other types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are due to abnormal protein deposits in the brain. This can happen at the same time as vascular dementia. Having more than one type of dementia at the same time is known as mixed dementia.
Vascular dementia affects people in different ways. The symptoms someone has will depend on the areas of the brain that have been damaged.
Signs of vascular dementia
If you or the people around you notice any of the signs below, you should visit your GP:
- Not being able to remember things.
- Not being able to understand or respond to things very quickly.
- Finding it difficult to concentrate.
- Not being able to find the right word when speaking.
- Struggling to plan ahead for everyday tasks.
- Difficulty learning new tasks or managing more complex tasks, such as finances, using technology or cooking a meal from scratch.
- Seeming down or depressed.
At a later stage, signs may include:
- Becoming confused.
- Behaving differently, such as being aggressive or showing distress.
- Lacking motivation.
- Not being able to control your emotions.
- Finding it difficult to walk and keep your balance.
- Problems with speaking and understanding.
- Having problems controlling your bladder (incontinence).
Both stroke and vascular dementia can cause problems with memory, thinking and mood. Strokes happen suddenly and may cause sudden changes in thinking and memory. In other cases, the symptoms of vascular dementia may come on more slowly and often get worse over time.
How is vascular dementia linked to stroke?
Stroke
Strokes are a common cause of vascular dementia. When you have a stroke, the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off, killing brain cells. The damage from a stroke can cause problems with memory and thinking (cognitive problems). For many people, these problems improve over time. If the problems do not improve or get worse, this may be a sign of vascular dementia.
Multiple small strokes or ‘silent’ strokes
Another cause of vascular dementia is when many small strokes happen, creating lots of small areas of damage in your brain. Often, these strokes can be so small that you do not know you are having them. These are known as silent strokes.
Symptoms of vascular dementia can appear suddenly if they are caused by a single stroke. Or if they are caused by silent strokes, they may appear gradually over time. Vascular dementia sometimes develops in ‘steps’, so that symptoms will stay the same for a while and then suddenly get worse. These steps are usually due to new strokes.
Other causes of vascular dementia
Vascular dementia can also be caused by small vessel disease. This means having damage to the tiny blood vessels deep inside the brain. Small blood vessels become narrowed, which reduces blood flow. This stops blood from getting to parts of your brain. This can cause damage over time which can then lead to vascular dementia. In this situation, the dementia may come on slowly over time.
Many of the things that increase your risk of small vessel disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and older age, can also increase your risk of stroke and dementia. But what causes some people to get small vessel disease is not fully understood.
Other blood vessel conditions can cause damage to the brain that can lead to vascular dementia. These include atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits clog and narrow vessels, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy, where a protein builds up and damages vessels, making them more likely to bleed or become narrowed. Both these can make a stroke more likely. A rare genetic vascular disease called CADASIL can also lead to vascular dementia.
Dementia terms you may hear
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): this can happen after a stroke. This is when someone has memory and thinking problems, but they are not severe enough to interfere with their day-to-day activities.
- Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI): this describes any memory and thinking problems associated with stroke or from damaged blood vessels in the brain. It includes vascular dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
Where to get help and information
Stroke Support Helpline
Our Stroke Support Helpline offers information and support for anyone affected by stroke, including family, friends and carers. Call us on 0303 3033 100, Textphone 18001 0303 3033 100 or email helpline@stroke.org.uk
- Dementia UK provides a helpline staffed by specialist Admiral Nurses and offers advice to support people with dementia. Dementia Helpline: 0800 888 6678.
- Alzheimer’s Society provides information and support for people with dementia, their carers and families. Dementia Support Line: 0333 150 3456.
- Alzheimer Scotland provides information and local support for carers and people living with dementia in Scotland. 24-hour Dementia Helpline: 0808 808 3000.
- Carers UK offers advice, information and support for carers, including a directory of local carers’ groups. Helpline: 0808 808 7777.
- Citizens Advice offers advice on finance, benefits and legal matters.
Accessible resources
The information in this section can be accessed in the following formats:
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