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Dementia
Vascular Dementia

What is Vascular Dementia?

Kim Trevey on Aug 23, 2022
What is Vascular Dementia?

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Table of Contents
  1. Share this Infographic Image On Your Site
  2. What causes vascular dementia?
  3. What are the symptoms of vascular dementia?
  4. Who is at risk for vascular dementia?
  5. Can you prevent vascular dementia?
  6. How is vascular dementia treated?
  7. How is vascular dementia diagnosed?

What is Vascular Dementia?

Vascular dementia is a type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. While most people think of Alzheimer’s disease when they hear the word “dementia,” vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, behind Alzheimer’s, and causes similar symptoms. In fact, the two often go hand-in-hand.

What is Vascular Dementia?

Mixed dementia is a type of dementia that includes Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Only 5-10% of vascular dementia cases are only vascular dementia. Most cases are mixed dementia.

Multi-infarct dementia, also known as vascular cognitive impairment, is a type of vascular dementia caused by a series of blockages that affect blood flow to a certain area of the brain. These blockages often go undetected until they cause symptoms that affect cognitive function.

What causes vascular dementia?

Restricted blood flow to the brain is ultimately what causes vascular dementia, and a number of factors can cause restricted blood flow, including:

  • blood clots
  • stroke
  • atherosclerosis (abnormal aging of blood vessels)
  • infection
  • high blood pressure
  • brain hemorrhage

Genetics can predispose someone to vascular dementia. CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is a genetic disorder that affects blood vessels in the brain, causing migraines, seizures, severe depression and, ultimately, vascular dementia.

What are the symptoms of vascular dementia?

Symptoms of vascular dementia vary based on which part of the brain is affected.

Vascular Dementia - Bader House of Georgetown

Vascular dementia caused by a major stroke can damage one side of the brain where blood supply was cut off. People with this type of vascular dementia may experience the following symptoms:

  • weakness on one side of the body
  • trouble with vision or speech
  • difficulty with planning or concentrating
  • difficulty with memory

Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a series of mini-strokes that result in dead brain tissue in various areas of the brain, known as an infarct. If there is an infarct in the hippocampus, memory will be affected. If there’s an infarct in the frontal lobe, executive function will be affected.

Subcortical vascular dementia is a type of vascular dementia that affects the white matter in the brain beneath the cortex, which is responsible for sending signals in the brain. Damage to white matter results in slowed thinking and difficulty with executive functioning.

Other symptoms of vascular dementia include:

  • restlessness or agitation
  • depression
  • apathy
  • unsteady gait
  • impaired bladder control
  • difficulty concentrating or paying attention

Who is at risk for vascular dementia?

Because vascular dementia is caused by restricted blood flow to the brain, anything that affects heart health can put someone at higher risk for developing vascular dementia, including:

  • history of heart attacks
  • strokes
  • obesity
  • atrial fibrillation (irregularities in the heart)
  • high blood pressure
  • high cholesterol
  • smoking
  • diabetes

Aging also puts you at higher risk. From age 65 to 90, the risk for developing vascular dementia greatly increases.

Can you prevent vascular dementia?

While there is no sure-fire way to ensure you will never get vascular dementia, keeping your heart healthy is the best thing you can do to lower your risk of developing vascular dementia. You can do this by:

  • Quitting smoking. Tobacco damages blood vessels.
  • Getting your blood pressure under control. Whether this is through medication or lifestyle changes, making sure you maintain a healthy blood pressure can help prevent vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s.
  • Preventing diabetes. With exercise and a proper diet, you can reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, which increases your risk for vascular dementia. If you already have type 2 diabetes, talk to you doctor about how you can keep it in check.
  • Keeping your cholesterol low. You can do this through diet or through medication. Talk to your doctor if you have high cholesterol.
  • Exercising. Exercise is one of the best things you can do to keep your heart healthy, plus it improves brain health.

How is vascular dementia treated?

There is no cure for vascular dementia, but symptoms can be alleviated, and the progression of the disease can be slowed through activities and procedures that improve blood flow to the brain, such as:

  • Carotid endarterectomy, angioplasty, and stenting—surgical procedures that increase and improve blood flow to the brain.
  • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle or implementing lifestyle changes such as exercise, eating a healthy diet and quitting smoking.
  • Taking medications that help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides.
  • Taking diabetes medication if you have diabetes.
  • Taking medication to help prevent blood clots.

How is vascular dementia diagnosed?

If you suspect you or a loved one is showing signs of vascular dementia, call your doctor immediately. He or she will probably refer you to a neurologist who can offer a proper exam and diagnosis.

Vascular dementia can be detected through magnetic resonance imagining (MRI), computed tomography (CT scan), or through a PET scan. A neurologist can also administer a neuropsychological assessment to determine what type of dementia you might have. You may also receive a neuropsychiatric evaluation to rule out any mental conditions that might be mimicking vascular dementia.

As the second most common type of dementia, know you are not alone if you receive a diagnosis. Vascular dementia is becoming more common and is expected to become even more common in years to come as people live longer with the types of health risks that cause vascular dementia. Talk to your doctor, get an assessment made and establish the best plan of care that will ensure you live the best life you can with vascular dementia.

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Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at Bader House!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

Bader House Memory Care Plano
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