Glossary

What is Vascular dementia?

Vascular dementia is dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, most often after strokes or from damage to small blood vessels.

It is the second most common dementia after Alzheimer's disease. It often progresses in steps rather than a steady slope, with a noticeable drop after each event, and the early symptoms are more often slowed thinking and poor planning than memory loss.

Managing blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol can slow it.

Why it matters

The pattern and the priorities differ from Alzheimer's, which changes what a family watches for.

Vascular dementia where you live

The local guide on this, for each city we cover.

Related terms

All terms