Very often these both diseases are mistaken for each other, this happens because both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the forms of dementia. It is very important for family members to distinguish the difference between them.
· Alzheimer’s disease is more common that vascular dementia. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, and the cause of vascular dementia is a stroke or lack of normal blood supply to the brain. Doctors believe that the risk of vascular dementia can be reduced by preventing a stroke: monitoring cholesterol level, blood pressure help a lot in preventing strokes.
· The symptoms of the forms of dementia are different. The symptoms of vascular dementia are observed on an earlier stage because they are really severe and sudden. Seniors with vascular dementia experience problems with walking and movements earlier than seniors with Alzheimer’s disease.
· The difference is also can be found in the progression of the diseases. Seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease experience slow cognitive decline, but patients with vascular dementia experience sudden changes one day and then have a period when these changes remain the same and then they experience another sudden changes.
· The prognosis for both diseases is also different. People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease usually live longer because the disease progresses slower than vascular dementia. it is also harder to diagnose the survival time with vascular dementia because the main word for describing this disease is “sudden”. Please, keep in mind that statistics is only statistics and proper treatment and care can help patients to live longer.
· Both of the diseases may be difficult for family members to handle both emotionally and physically. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia cause unpleasant changes in people and it is very important for every family member to be positive.
