Symptoms - Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia causes problems with thinking, memory and ability to control your body.

The symptoms can start suddenly or gradually. They can get worse over time. But treatment can help slow down its progression.

Early symptoms

Early signs of vascular dementia are usually mild.

They may include:

• a slower thought process
• problems with planning or organising
• problems with understanding
• problems concentrating
• changes to your mood or behaviour
• problems with memory and language - this is more common with Alzheimer's disease

You may not notice these problems. You or someone else may mistake them for other conditions, such as depression. But the problems may be a sign of damage to the brain that needs treatment.

Later symptoms

The symptoms often continue to get worse over time. This may happen slowly, or in sudden steps every few months or years.

Later symptoms depend on the part of the brain that's affected, but can include:

• significant slowing of the thought process
• feeling disorientated and confused
• memory loss and difficulty concentrating
• problems with language and finding the right words
• severe personality changes, such as becoming aggressive
• depression, mood swings and lack of interest or enthusiasm
• problems walking and keeping balance, with frequent falls
• loss of bladder control (incontinence)
• increasing difficulty with daily activities

Some people also have symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

When to see your GP

Talk to your GP if you think you have early symptoms of dementia.

If it's found at an early stage, treatment may be able to stop vascular dementia from getting worse. Or it may help to slow it down.

If you're worried about someone else, encourage them to talk to their GP. Offer to go to their appointment with them.

Fear of talking about symptoms

Stigma happens when there are negative beliefs about dementia or the people affected by it. You may worry about stigma or experience stigma from other people.

You may fear:

• finding out that you have dementia
• telling other people about your symptoms

But keeping your symptoms or feelings hidden can lead to stress and isolation.

The earlier you get a diagnosis, the earlier you can get support. This can help you to live well with dementia.

Other causes of symptoms

Symptoms of dementia can have several causes. Your GP can do some checks to try to find out the cause. They may refer you to a specialist for further tests. This may be to a neurologist, geriatrician or a psychiatrist.