Vascular Dementia Nature Can Help

Vascular dementia is extensively acknowledged as the second most common form of dementia. It comes in second to Alzheimer's Disease. There are 3.4 million Americans aged 71 and older. According to estimates 13.9% of those have dementia and among them 2.4% have vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia is caused by chronic reduced blood flow to the brain with the common outcome is suffering a stroke or a number of strokes.

The diagnoses for this disease usually occurs after a major stroke blocks a large blood vessel disturbing the blood supply to a major portion of the brain. At times when this occurs it is referred to as post-stroke dementia.

There is also another type in where a series of small strokes which are extremely small or restrict small blood vessels. On their own these strokes do not reveal any major symptoms over time their blended effect does become noticeable and is referred to as vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). These small strokes which are endured are called "silent strokes". When the damage is combined it end up with the person having memory loss, confusion, language along with other dementia signs.

Those who endure this possibly have previous history of heart attacks, high blood pressure and cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, diabetes and other risk factors of cardiovascular disease can be seen.

This form of dementia is challenging for those who have to endure it along with those who care for them.

Symptoms of disease

Memory problems such as forgetting things. This symptom may or may not be an issue depending upon the brain areas associated to memory had been affected.

Confusion which may seem worse at nighttime.

Difficulties in communicating, following instructions, concentrating and planning. Communicating problems can include slurred speech or finding the appropriate words for things.

Daily activities become harder to perform such as paying bills or a favorite game. Even going for a walk can become hard as they may get lost even if before they also walked the same route.

Changes moods such as depression and becoming irritable.

Physical symptoms can include dizziness, weakness in the leg or arm, tremors, quick shuffling steps, balance problems and loss of bladder or bowl control.

Cause of the disease

A stroke or small vessel disease and a combination of the two can cause vascular dementia. The most common cause is when the small blood vessels become blocked in some area of the system of the arteries that provides nourishment to the brain and comes through the base of the skull. These blockages can produce plaque build up on the inside of the artery wall or can be caused by blood clots that have come free and blocked a vein that empties into a larger vein. Clots can also form due to abnormal heart rhythms or heart abnormalities. A weak part on the artery wall can enlarge outward and develop and aneurysm, which then can explode therefore, depriving the brain cells of oxygen.

Estimates have shown that at least half the cases of vascular dementia are due to hypertension or high blood pressure. The least common causes have been linked to autoimmune inflammatory disease of the arteries like lupus or temporal arteritis which can be treated with medication that suppress the immune system.

Prevention

Prevention of vascular dementia is vital due to the fact there currently is no known cure to this disease. The most valuable way for prevention is to lower the risk of stroke. This can be done by reducing high blood pressure so it can be controlled, controlling cholesterol levels and diabetes along with no smoking.

At an early stage in life by monitoring blood pressure,weight, cholesterol and blood sugar along with avoiding smoking and do not use alcohol in excess, could have a major part in prevention of this disease as you become older.

Treatments

Currently, there are no medications available in which have FDA approval. There are a few medications which are used in the treatment of cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's patients some have been noted to work efficiently. However, in 2006, the pharmaceutical manufacturer of Aricept had problems with the medication. In a clinical trail for the drug, a vast number of patient deaths had happened to the studies participants who had been taken the medication in comparison to those on a placebo.

Alternative treatments

Alternative therapies are used in addition to conventional treatments and your health care practitioner should be informed of the therapies you are using. When deciding to use herbal treatments consult with your primary practitioner first. Some herbs can interfere with medications.

Here are a few of the popular alternative treatments which have been use for vascular dementia which fall under the general category of dementia treatments.

Herbs and Supplements

Silymarin is an extract from milk thistle. It is used to help the liver function. It is also used to reduce side effects from the medication Tacrine a drug used for Alzheimer's which has been noted to cause liver problems. It is also noted this drug is well tolerated and in one study did decrease liver toxicity.

Chato-san is a Japanese alternative to Chinese medicine. It contains eleven medical plants. In one study in patients after taking the medication for twelve weeks there was improvement in the symptoms of the disease. Further studies are still needed to determine its effectiveness rate.

Kami-Umtan-To another Japanese mixture that contains thirteen medical plants. A clinical trail had shown a slower rate of decline in those participants who had taken the mixture.

Yizhi capsule this one is traditional Chinese medicine capsule. The use of this medication has shown positive results in studies. This one is still under further trials for effectiveness rates.

Omega 3 (DHA - docosahexaneoic) in study of participants who had normal age related decrease of cognitive ability in which had taken daily doses of 900 mg, had scores a little better on computer memory tests in comparisons to those participants on a placebo.

Aromatherapy and massage

All essential oils should be diluted before apply to any skin area. Application uses have been in an oil burner to produce the smell into the air, as in massage or bath water.

Researchers from Newcastle University Medicinal Plant Research Center had revealed possible benefits of aromatherapy especially lemon balm. The researchers believe that lemon balm could aide in prevention of the essential brain chemical acetylcholine. This chemical loss is linked to one of the alterations in Alzheimer's disease. Lemon balm has been stated to work the same as drugs such as Aricept and Exelon.

Another study had shown that aromatherapy massage could decrease the incidence of wandering.

A separate study had shown that the use of aromatherapy massage had decreased disturbed behavior.

Music Therapy

Five studies had been reviewed on the use of music therapy in order to decrease behavior or cognitive problems along with improving social and emotional functioning. Some small studies have shown that music therapy could be beneficial in the areas however, due to the fact they were small studies on affirmative results have been concluded.

Acupuncture

In one study of 63 participants using divided into two groups one with acupuncture treatment and the other treated with the medication of piracetem. The final conclusion had shown a 80.65 higher rate in improvement than the control group (piracetem) at 25%. The indication was that acupuncture treatments where higher for immediate treatment effect than that of the medication.

Another study had shown that the use of acupuncture treatments not only had decreased the accompanying symptoms of depression and anxiety but also showed improvement in mental functioning.

Bright Light Therapy

Sleep disorders are associated to this disease causing sleep patterns being interrupted causing physical activity to increase especially during nighttime sleep hours.

Those who care for patients with this disease try and get the patient to retire for the night at a regular set time. However, it can produce aggressive and disturbed behavior in the person. These behaviors usually happen at the afternoon to evening hours when the sun starts going down. These behaviors can include things such as wandering, pacing and even increased confusion as the night approaches. Their combative behavior can range from just being stubborn to hitting those that are providing their care. These behavior symptoms can become severe enough that they need to be restrained.

Conventional medicine dictates the use of tranquilizers or sleep inducing medications to decrease the behavior.

There are some studies in which now are showing that bright light therapy can manage the sleep and wake cycles.

A University of California San Diego compared the effects of bright light therapy to improve daily rhythm in nursing home patients that had Alzheimer's disease.

In the study the nighttime activity of those with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease was compared in the study. Both groups were treated with bright light therapy in the morning. The results had shown that bright light therapy had made a difference in those with vascular dementia. Those with vascular dementia had less activity during the nighttime hours. Conclusions have indicated that bright light therapy works well in improvement in sleep and wake cycles for those with vascular dementia unfortunately, it had no affect on Alzheimer's patients.

Further Prevention

It has been established that people aged 65 and older who walk and get other moderate type exercise can greatly decrease the risk for vascular dementia.

An examination of 749 men and women in Italy, aged 65 and older and did not have any memory problems at the beginning of the four year study. Researchers took measurements of energy used in weekly physical activities which had included walking, bike riding and other moderate forms of exercise. At the conclusion of study 54 people had Alzheimer's disease in comparison of 27 people that developed vascular dementia.

The study had concluded that those who had physical activity had decreased the rate of vascular dementia in the elderly. Physical activity did not lower the risk for Alzheimer's disease. It was noted that before exercise can be ruled out as a prevention for Alzheimer's disease more studies are required.

Sources:

Med Scape

Alzheimer's Association

Help Guide

Cochrane Reviews

U.S. National Library Institute of Health

All Business

Dr. Beatty