Poststroke Cognitive Disorders

Vascular dementia is one of the most common forms of dementia and has an impact on millions of adults. Those with cerebrovascular/stroke risk factors are at the highest risk for developing this type of dementia. There are three main subtypes of vascular dementia, which are defined based on their vascular pathology: diffuse small vessel, multiinfarct larger vessel, and strategically located stroke. Not all vascular dementia occurs in a stepwise pattern of cognitive decline, as is often taught. With small vessel disease, the course is slow and gradual. There is no specific treatment to reverse the effects of vascular dementia. The treatment of vascular dementia is the aggressive management of all stroke risk factors, cardiovascular exercise as able, and making efforts to stay active from a mental and social standpoint.