Vascular Senile Dementia - Research Paper Example

Vascular Senile Dementia Samary Lopez-Hill 04/06 A & P Le Roy Coleman Vascular Form Senile Dementia There are several kinds of dementia though often the term dementia is attributed to Alzheimer's disease. Vascular dementia is the second largest cause of dementia. It affects 10-20% of all patients who have dementia. It is a cerebral injury caused by ischemia and can affect many different parts of the brain either one at a time or many at a time. There are sometimes multiple small and large blood vessel occlusions throughout the brain.

This paper will discuss vascular dementia and it's affects on human cognition. Vascular dementia is caused by atherosclerosis of the vessels of the brain. There are many times that you hear medical personnel say, eat a better diet, get more exercise, have great social support, and control you blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar (health.harvard). When people hear these things, they automatically think of their hearts. The fact is, these are the very same problems that cause vascular dementia.

Other things that can cause or contribute to vascular dementia are arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, TIA, atrial fibrillation, snoring, carotid bruits, alcoholism, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Dementia means deprived mind and often includes a decline in memory, reasoning, thinking and mental functions. More than three million Americans now have dementia. The age of onset is usually 55-70 and the onset is usually quite abrupt. It often starts with paroxysmal deterioration of intellectual functions and this becomes clearly a succession of strokes and infarcts in the brain.

There is often a fluctuation of mental status followed by generalized deterioration(Matteson, McConnell, & Linton pg. 1162). There may also be focal neurological signs such as asymmetrical reflexes, extensor plantar responses, limb weakness and focal signs like twitching plus a small step gate. There is often disordered breathing when asleep and there may be anxiety, fatigue, and palpitations as well as difficulty sleeping, headache and chest pain. Prevention of this dementia is similar to that of heart disease.

A diet lower in fat and cholesterol, regular exercise, keeping blood pressure and blood sugar under control are all important. Once the disease begins, there is no going back. There are some studies that are looking at efforts to slow down progression of the disease. That would include a trail in process with Vitamin D and Omega 3. This is a Harvard and Brigham affiliated study that is in process now. All other treatment at this time is symptomatic treatment. Blood pressure is treated with medications specific to the patient, usually more than one in combination to get the effect.

Long term donepezil has shown some improvement in cognition. This improved cognition according to the studies (Goldberg pg. 6) lasts about one year. Cholinesterase inhibitors may help some but studies show that they are not as effective as they are for Alzheimer's (Wilkinson, pg2). There are no cures at this time. In conclusion, vascular dementia is caused by atherosclerosis of the vessels of the brain and of course if that is happening in the brain, it is happening in the rest of the body and that is why there are so many other systems involved.

Those systems include the heart and peripheral vascular system. These patients do not die from the dementia itself but from one of the comorbities that come with it. There are also many who die from accidents related to the dementia. The fact that many of these patients already have diabetes is not help at all. Treatment remains treatment of the symptoms. The disease itself if not yet treatable. The only hope is to take care early in life by being healthy, eating well, and exercising regularly.

ResourcesGoldberg, R. Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update. Volume 13 (10). October 2009. Harvard Heart Letter. Dual Protection. www.health.harvard.edu Matteson, M., McConnell, E., & Linton, A. Gerentological Nursing Concepts and Practices Ed. 2. 2005. pg. 1162. Wilkinson, D. Vascular dementia and cholinesterase inhibitors. Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update. Volume 13(10). October 2009. I