Vascular+dementia

Vascular Dementia By: Tess Bierl


 * Cause: **When blood flow is inadequate by being blocked or reduced, there can be some serious damage done where many cells in the body are killed (Vascular Dementia, 2013). The brain cells are reduced because of a deficiency of oxygen and nutrients. Any damage to the central nervous system can cause cognitive deprivation where the magnitude is specific to site and size of lesions, and the amount and location of neuronal cell death, and why the lesions occurred (Korczyn et al., 2012).


 * Affected cells types/tissues/organs/systems: **VaD affects mainly the central nervous system. In additional neuronal cells are harmed and are programmed for cell death.

** Historical Background**: There were early beliefs that senile dementia arose from arteriosclerosis. Alois Alzheimer described it as a cause from neuritic plaques and neurofibrilliary changes and opposed to the vascular changes (Korczyn et al., 2012). In 1894, vascular dementia was accredited to Otto Binswanger and Alois Alzheimer, who made a distinction between vascular dementia from dementia paralytica caused by neurosyphilis (Roman, 2003). Vascular origin of dementia was dismissed and came back after analysis by Tomlinson et al, in the 1960s (Korczyn et al., 2012)

**Common Symptoms**: Some common symptoms include memory loss, confusion, disorientation, trouble speaking or understanding speech, and loss of vision. These symptoms are most apparent after a major stroke occurs. Additional symptoms include headache, problems walking, and paralysis (Vascular Dementia, 2013).


 * Standard Treatments: **The U.S FDA has not legalized any drugs to specifically treat vascular dementia and its symptoms. It is possible that some drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease may help with but there are none specialized for VaD (Vascular Dementia, 2013).

**Current Research:**

-This study compares strokes to the onset of VaD. NO2 is a risk factory of ischemic stroke in polluted areas. NO2 was found to delay the recovery of the function of nerves after a stroke. This can implicate a possible risk of vascular dementia. They found while studying rats that exposure to NO2 could increase the risk of being diagnosed with VaD.
 * Li, H., and Xin, X. (2013). Nitrofen dioxide (NO2) pollution as a potential risk factor for developing vascular dementia and its synaptic mechanisms. **

H. Korczyn, A.D, Vakhapova, V., and Grinberg, L.T. (2012). //Journal of the Neurological Sciences//. 332(1-2): 2-10.
 * References: **

Roman, G. (2003). Vascular dementia: a historical background. //International Psychogeriatric.// 15(1):11-30.

Vascular Dementia. (2013). Alzheimer’s association. Retrieved from [|www.alz.org/dementia/vascular-dementia-symptoms.asp#causes] .



Flowchart References:

Iemolo, F., Duro, G., Rizzo, C. et al. (2009). Pathophysiology of vascular dementia. //Immunity & Aging.// 6(13): 1-9.

Perry, M. (2012). A guide to vascular dementia. //Practice Nurse.// 42(14). Np.