Behavioral Symptoms in Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Dementia

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (S1) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
John O'Brien

Noncognitive or behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) are common in vascular dementia. Many occur with the same frequency as in Alzheimer's disease, though depression, emotional lability, and apathy may be more common and psychosis less so. There is a particularly strong relationship between cerebrovascular disease and depression.

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan Tiel ◽  
Felipe Kenji Sudo ◽  
Gilberto Sousa Alves ◽  
Letice Ericeira-Valente ◽  
Denise Madeira Moreira ◽  
...  

Neuropsychiatric symptoms or Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) are common and invariably appear at some point during the course of the disease, mediated both by cerebrovascular disease and neurodegenerative processes. Few studies have compared the profiles of BPSD in Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) of different subtypes (subcortical or cortical) and clinical stages (Vascular Cognitive Impairment No Dementia [VaCIND] and Vascular Dementia [VaD]). Objective: To review the BPSD associated with different subtypes and stages of VCI using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Methods: Medline, Scielo and Lilacs databases were searched for the period January 2000 to December 2014, with the key words: "BPSD AND Vascular Dementia, "NPI AND Vascular Dementia" and "NPI AND VCI. Qualitative analysis was performed on studies evaluating BPSD in VCI, using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Results: A total of 82 studies were retrieved of which 13 were eligible and thus included. Among the articles selected, 4 compared BPSD in Subcortical Vascular Dementia (SVaD) versus Cortical-Subcortical Vascular Dementia (CSVaD), 3 involved comparisons between SVaD and VaCIND, 1 study analyzed differences between CSVaD and VaCIND, while 5 studies assessed BPSD in CSVaD. Subcortical and Cortical-Subcortical VaD were associated predominantly with Apathy and Depression. VaCIND may present fewer behavioral symptoms than VaD. Conclusion: The profile of BPSD differs for different stages of VCI. Determining the most prevalent BPSD in VCI subtypes might be helpful for improving early diagnosis and management of these symptoms.


Author(s):  
Hugh Markus ◽  
Anthony Pereira ◽  
Geoffrey Cloud

Patients with cerebrovascular disease can develop dementia in the absence of stroke symptoms or as a consequence to stroke. In this chapter, concepts, classification, and definitions of vascular dementia are outlined with a discussion of the overlap between vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Investigation of the vascular dementia patient for treatable causes and to inform management is discussed as there are sections on therapy, promoting independence, and assessments of mental capacity. Depression is common in vascular dementia and a section is dedicated to the assessment and management of this. The concept of mild vascular cognitive impairment is also discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Pinto ◽  
R. Seethalakshmi

Background: Differential patterns of brain lesions in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD) can result in differing clinical courses and presentations.Method: Thirty patients with AD were compared with 29 patients with VaD for differences in behavioral symptoms using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease (BEHAV-AD) rating scale.Results: Patients with AD had significantly more delusions, hallucinations, anxieties and phobias and caregiver distress than patients with VaD.Conclusions: Behavioral symptoms in both AD and VaD exhibit specific longitudinal patterns. An understanding of the pattern can aid the treating physician in giving appropriate advice to caregivers regarding the course of the illness and also help them in planning appropriate interventions.


Author(s):  
Francis Cambronero ◽  
Angela L. Jefferson

Hemodynamic impairment is a prominent feature in aging, vascular cognitive impairment and dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, including patterned changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) that can be detected prior to concomitant pathologies. These CBF abnormalities drive vascular dysfunction through a variety of biological pathways and ultimately contribute to cerebrovascular disease associated with cognitive impairment. Importantly, the co-existence of cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease is exceedingly common and worsens the progression of clinical symptoms, likely through accelerating neurotoxic protein deposition and the loss of cerebrovascular integrity. Emerging evidence further suggests that the brain may be more susceptible to subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction in aging adults, particularly since the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors over the lifespan creates a more vulnerable vascular system. Although age-associated CBF dysregulation has varied and complex origins, it undoubtedly serves a critical role in the early progression of neurodegenerative disease and may help explain the considerable overlap between the most common clinical dementias.


2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (S1) ◽  
pp. 171-174

Dr. Förstl was impressed by Dr. Reisberg's data showing a close relationship between cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Yet he questioned Dr. Reisberg's conclusion that cognitive impairment is necessary for developing hallucinations or delusions. Dr. Reisberg responded that although there is no correlation between scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and BPSD, it does not mean that cognition is not involved in these symptoms. By definition, BPSD are behavioral and psychological. There is a psychological, or cognitive, element to all BPSD, said Dr. Reisberg. As an example, he noted that a patient with cataracts is more likely to experience visual hallucinations. A person who is not cognitively impaired will be able to censor those experiences and not discuss them with others. Patients with dementia do not censor this information, and tell others about their visual hallucinations. Dr. Reisberg noted, however, that visual hallucinations among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are not common, occurring in about 20% of patients, with a peak occurrence just before the final stages of the disease. Dr. Shah commented that BPSD in patients in the final stages of AD may be difficult to detect because techniques for identifying these symptoms in severely cognitively impaired patients are lacking.


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