What Are the Stages of Vascular Dementia?

As one of the most common forms of dementia, it’s helpful to recognize not just the onset of vascular dementia but how it progresses and the timeline. It’s the only way to offer your loved one the best possible support. Each of the vascular dementia stages can progress at different rates depending on which underlying factor caused it.

Early-Stage vs Late-Stage Vascular Dementia

Early Stages of Vascular Dementia

When vascular dementia first sets in, you may notice difficulties with cognitive skills such as planning, decision-making, problem-solving, thinking, following directions, and concentrating. An individual’s memory, fluency, clarity, and depth perception can be negatively impacted in the early vascular dementia stages. Emotionally, your loved one may have vascular dementia if they begin to experience common dementia behaviors such as depression, anxiety, apathy, mood swings, overemotional responsiveness, and other mood disorders.

Following a stroke, you may encounter problems with paralysis, muscle weakness, vision, or speech in a short timeline. Meanwhile, subcortical vascular dementia could also include a loss of bladder control, unsteady walking, fall proclination, slurring, and relaxed facial expressions.

Late Stages Of Vascular Dementia

The extent to which a person with dementia experiences confusion or disorientation increases significantly as they progress into the late stages of vascular dementia. Communication, short-term memory, and logical reasoning are also negatively impacted. Expect to increase your level of support for your loved one as he or she advances from the early stages of vascular dementia to the late stages. Your family member may need help with cleaning and other chores around the house as they navigate different treatments and the symptoms of the disease.

You may also notice an exacerbation of the following symptoms:

• Irritability
• Aggression
• Insomnia
• Inappropriate Behavior
• Delusions/Hallucinations
• Physical Fragility

Eventually, your loved one will depend on your 24/7 assistance with their daily routine.

Read more: When Is the Right Time to Move Your Loved One into a Memory Care Community?

Symptoms of Vascular Dementia

Strokes

If a stroke or series of strokes bring on vascular dementia, most people tend to see symptoms quickly. In this scenario, vascular dementia could affect your loved one’s level of cognition, thinking, and recall. This depends on what areas of the brain were impacted during the stroke and to what degree.

Chronic Blood Vessel Issues

Atherosclerosis (artery thickening), autoimmune vascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic blood vessel issues tend to progress the symptoms and stages of vascular dementia gradually. That’s because the constricted blood vessels limit the flow of oxygen to the brain tissue increasingly as time goes on.

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Mini-Strokes

Although similar, a “mini-stroke” aggravates the development of vascular dementia differently than a stroke would. The worsening signs of this disease emerge bit by bit. As more and more mini-strokes occur, an individual will encounter different stages and symptoms of vascular dementia. The severity of each symptom can strengthen each time a mini-stroke occurs. Symptoms won’t change much between these series.

Vascular Dementia Timeline & Life Expectancy

Although the progression of vascular dementia affects everyone differently, the life expectancy or timeline for a person with the condition is around five years after the first appearance of symptoms. It’s generally caused by a stroke or heart attack. However, successful vascular dementia treatment can help promote a purpose-filled way of life during this time.

Who Has a High Risk of Developing Vascular Dementia?

Factors that increase your risk of encountering the early or late stages of vascular dementia include high blood pressure, smoking, excessive drinking, diabetes, and heart disease. In regards to the prognosis of vascular dementia—men, African Americans, and those between the ages of 60 to 75 tend to be at an increased risk.

Vascular Dementia Treatment Options

Unfortunately, the damage vascular dementia causes to brain tissue cannot be undone. It’s still important to enroll in proper treatment or consider moving your loved one into a dementia assisted living community to ensure they live their life to the fullest. As far as vascular dementia treatment goes, you may help them regulate their blood pressure or diabetes with diet, exercise, medication, and the prevention of other drug and alcohol use.

Leaving sticky notes with routine instructions, to-do lists, and other helpful cues allows for a greater sense of independence despite the change in their cognition. Maintaining a high level of communication and giving them clear reminders of the date, their whereabouts, and their family’s whereabouts is also good.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Services

Support your loved one with vascular dementia in living a meaningful life at Terra Vista. Terra Vista is an Alzheimer’s care assisted living facility in Oakbrook Terrace with 24/7-on-site medical personnel, dementia-care-trained staff, and innovative social therapy programs. You and the family can feel a sense of peace knowing that your loved one will receive innovative social and memory therapy programs. You and the family can feel a sense of peace knowing that your loved one will receive the best memory care services while still keeping their independence.

Our dementia care assisted living community features private living rooms, communal dining rooms, and other stellar amenities to help your loved one live a fulfilling life. Take the next step with vascular dementia treatment and schedule a tour of our community to meet our highly skilled medical team today. Give our team a call by phone at (630) 793-0753 to discuss the benefits of transitioning into a memory care community.

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