Difference Between Dementia and Vascular Dementia

1. What is the difference between dementia and vascular dementia?
2. What are the 7 stages of vascular dementia?
3. What is the life expectancy of someone with vascular dementia?
4. Is Alzheimer's worse than vascular dementia?
5. Does a person with dementia know they are confused?
6. At what point do dementia patients need 24 hour care?
7. What are the end stages of vascular dementia?
8. Do vascular dementia patients sleep a lot?
9. What are the signs of end stage vascular dementia?
10. Does vascular dementia progress quickly?
11. What should you not say to someone with dementia?
12. Is vascular dementia a terminal illness?

What is the difference between dementia and vascular dementia?

The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that can include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. In vascular dementia, these symptoms occur when the brain is damaged because of problems with the supply of blood to the brain.

What are the 7 stages of vascular dementia?

The 7 stages of Dementia

• Normal Behaviour. ...
• Forgetfulness. ...
• Mild Decline. ...
• Moderate Decline. ...
• Moderately Severe Decline. ...
• Severe Decline. ...
• Very Severe Decline.

What is the life expectancy of someone with vascular dementia?

On average, people with vascular dementia live for around five years after symptoms begin, less than the average for Alzheimer's disease. Because vascular dementia shares many of the same risk factors as heart attack and stroke, in many cases, the person's death will be caused by a stroke or heart attack.

Is Alzheimer's worse than vascular dementia?

Vascular dementia can be slowed down in some cases, but it still shortens a person's lifespan. Some types of dementia are reversible, but most types are irreversible and will instead cause more impairment over time. Alzheimer's is a terminal illness, and no cure is currently available.

Does a person with dementia know they are confused?

In the earlier stages, memory loss and confusion may be mild. The person with dementia may be aware of — and frustrated by — the changes taking place, such as difficulty recalling recent events, making decisions or processing what was said by others.

At what point do dementia patients need 24 hour care?

When living at home is no longer an option

There may come a time when the person living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia will need more care than can be provided at home. During the middle stages of Alzheimer's, it becomes necessary to provide 24-hour supervision to keep the person with dementia safe.

What are the end stages of vascular dementia?

Final Days/Weeks

• Hands, feet, arms and legs may be increasingly cold to the touch.
• Inability to swallow.
• Terminal agitation or restlessness.
• An increasing amount of time asleep or drifting into unconsciousness.
• Changes in breathing, including shallow breaths or periods without breathing for several seconds or up to a minute.

Do vascular dementia patients sleep a lot?

It is quite common for a person with dementia, especially in the later stages, to spend a lot of their time sleeping – both during the day and night. This can sometimes be distressing for the person's family and friends, as they may worry that something is wrong.

What are the signs of end stage vascular dementia?

Experts suggest that signs of the final stage of Alzheimer's disease include some of the following:

• Being unable to move around on one's own.
• Being unable to speak or make oneself understood.
• Needing help with most, if not all, daily activities, such as eating and self-care.
• Eating problems such as difficulty swallowing.

Does vascular dementia progress quickly?

Vascular dementia will usually get worse over time. This can happen in sudden steps, with periods in between where the symptoms do not change much, but it's difficult to predict when this will happen. Home-based help will usually be needed, and some people will eventually need care in a nursing home.

What should you not say to someone with dementia?

I'm going to discuss five of the most basic ones here: 1) Don't tell them they are wrong about something, 2) Don't argue with them, 3) Don't ask if they remember something, 4) Don't remind them that their spouse, parent or other loved one is dead, and 5) Don't bring up topics that may upset them.

Is vascular dementia a terminal illness?

“Dementia is a terminal illness; as the end of life approaches, the pattern in which patients with advanced dementia experience distressing symptoms is similar to patients dying of more commonly recognized terminal conditions, such as cancer.”