Vascular dementia – what’s the difference to Alzheimer’s disease? Signs and symptoms

A new BBC drama, named Care, aims to raise awareness for vascular dementia.

Sheridan Smith plays Jenny, whose mother, Mary (Alison Steadman) suffers a stroke, and subsequently develops vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia affects around 150,000 people in the UK, and is rare in people under 65 years old.

But what’s the difference between vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease – the most common type of dementia in the UK?

One of the main differences between vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is how it’s caused.

Vascular dementia is caused by a reduced flow of blood to the brain, which eventually kills the brain cells.

It can develop after a blockage of the tiny blood vessels inside the brain, or a single stroke. A number of ‘mini strokes’ could also lead to the dementia.

Having high blood pressure or diabetes increases the risk of a stroke, and subsequently vascular dementia.

Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be caused by a build-up of abnormal proteins in and around the brain.

After so many proteins have built up, they develop into plaques and get tangled within brain cells.

“Dementia is the name for problems with mental abilities caused by gradual changes and damage in the brain,” said the NHS.

“Vascular dementia tends to get worse over time, although it’s sometimes possible to slow it down.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe.”

Vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease symptoms are very similar, but vascular symptoms can begin very suddenly.

Common early vascular dementia symptoms include slowness of thought, difficulty with planning and mood changes.

Patients could also develop problems with memory and language, although it’s not as common as Alzheimer’s patients.

During it’s early stages, the main symptoms of Alzheimer’s are linked to memory lapses, said the NHS.

“For example, someone with early Alzheimer’s disease may forget about recent conversations or events, or misplace items,” it said.

You should speak to a GP if you’re worried about your memory, or think you may have dementia.

There’s currently no cure for dementia, but early treatment can slow down vascular dementia’s progression, and may temporarily reduce Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.