Major Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Vascular Disease

Major neurocognitive disorder due to vascular disease, otherwise known as vascular dementia, is a major cause of debility in the elderly. Together with Alzheimer’s disease, they both constitute the most common cause of cognitive decline in older adults. The deficits due to vascular disease vary among different individuals, depending on the location of the insult, the magnitude of the insult, and the cumulative effect of the insult over time. Rating scales and neuroimaging are limited in predictive value of the impact of cerebrovascular insults. This necessitates the need for thorough assessments to facilitate appropriate treatments. Vascular dementia is usually caused by modifiable factors and is best prevented, especially as recovery from vascular insults is often incomplete, with recovery of cognitive functions typically lagging behind functional recovery. In this chapter, we review the epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment options for major neurocognitive disorder due to vascular disease.