Vascular disease contributes to up to half of all cases of dementia. However, lifestyle changes can prevent or slow the progression of this brain affliction.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and best-known form of dementia and is characterized by memory loss, problem-solving difficulties, and mood and personality changes. However, autopsy studies show that more than half of Alzheimer’s patients also have one or more other types of dementia. Most often it is a syndrome called vascular dementia.

“Over the past decade, it has begun to be recognized that dementia should be viewed as a different disorder of the brain,” said a neurologist in the Division of Stroke Services and Memory Disorders at Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital. One Dr. Anand Viswanathan said: hospital. Although Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia have different underlying causes, there is a lot of overlap in terms of symptoms, symptoms, and treatments.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to a library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update for all articles.

Regardless of date, the content of this site should not be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from a physician or other qualified clinician.