Treatment and support of vascular dementia

Vascular dementia treatment and support

A person can live well with vascular dementia with drug and non-drug treatment, support and activities.

The person should have a chance to talk to a health or social care professional about their dementia diagnosis. This could be a psychiatrist or mental health nurse, a clinical psychologist, occupational therapist or GP. Information on what support is available and where to go for further advice is vital in helping someone to stay physically and mentally well.

Control of cardiovascular disease

If the underlying cardiovascular diseases that have caused vascular dementia can be controlled, it may be possible to slow down the progression of the dementia. For example, after someone has had a stroke or TIA, treatment of high blood pressure can reduce the risk of further stroke and dementia. For stroke-related dementia in particular, with treatment there may be long periods when the symptoms don't get significantly worse.

In most cases, a person with vascular dementia will already be on medications to treat the underlying diseases. These include tablets to reduce blood pressure, prevent blood clots and lower cholesterol. If the person has a diagnosed heart condition or diabetes they will also be taking medicines for these. It is important that the person continues to take any medications and attends regular check-ups as recommended by a doctor.

Someone with vascular dementia will also be advised to adopt a healthy lifestyle, particularly to take regular physical exercise and, if they are a smoker, to quit. They should try to eat a diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and oily fish but not too much fat or salt. Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping to recommended levels of alcohol will also help. The GP should be able to offer advice in all these areas.

Other treatment and support

Supporting a person with vascular dementia to live well includes treatment for symptoms, support to cope with lost abilities, and help to keep up enjoyable activities. For someone who has had a stroke or has physical difficulties, treatment will also include rehabilitation.

The drugs that are routinely prescribed for Alzheimer's disease do not have benefits for vascular dementia, and are not recommended for it. These drugs may, however, be prescribed to treat mixed dementia (Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia).

If someone is depressed or anxious, talking therapies (such as cognitive behavioural therapy) or drug treatments may also be tried. Counselling may also help the person adjust to the diagnosis.

There are many ways to help someone remain independent and cope with the cognitive symptoms of vascular dementia. For example, breaking complex tasks down into smaller steps will make them easier. An environment which is not too busy or noisy will make it easier to concentrate. For someone with memory loss, a regular routine and appropriate technology, such as pill boxes or electronic devices, can help.

Keeping active

It is important that a person with any type of dementia stays active and continues to do things they enjoy. Keeping mentally active (cognitive stimulation) is known to help with memory and communication. Life story work, in which someone shares their life experiences and makes a personal record, may help with memory, mood and wellbeing. As the dementia worsens, many people enjoy more general reminiscence activities.

If the person has physical difficulties, for example after a stroke, they will usually benefit from rehabilitation. This could mean working with a physiotherapist (especially for help with weakness, coordination, movement and balance), occupational therapist (for everyday activities) or speech and language therapist (for all aspects of communication).

Find services for people with dementia near you

The details of the support that is available, and how people are generally referred, can vary around the country.  Add your postcode below to see what is available near you.

Behaviour changes in people with vascular dementia

Over time, changes in the person's behaviour - such as agitation or aggression - become more likely. These are often a sign that the person is in distress. There are many potential causes. For example, the person might be in pain, they may have misunderstood something or someone, or they may be frustrated or under-stimulated. Individualised approaches should try to address the cause.

General non-drug approaches (eg social interaction) often help. They should generally be tried before additional drugs are considered, particularly in the case of antipsychotics.

Anyone caring for the person is likely to find these behaviours distressing. Support for carers is particularly important at such times.