The 7 Stages of Vascular Dementia Explained (Chart Included)

Living with vascular dementia is challenging. But, even less discussed is the issue of caring for people who are living through the seven stages of vascular dementia. Families and friends who know are caring for an individual with vascular dementia: we understand that living with and caring for someone with vascular dementia is tough. The progression of the condition differs for each individual, which means a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work for all. And with the lifecycle of the disease differing for each person, being prepared to help loved ones can feel more like a burden than a privilege. We get it, and we’re here to help. For more than 30 years, the expert caregivers and senior living team at Village Walk have been providing assisted living and memory care solutions for individuals, families, and friends living with vascular dementia. If you’re wondering what to expect at each of the seven stages of vascular dementia, you’re not alone. Join us! We’ll lighten your load by providing helpful information about what to expect at each of the seven stages of vascular dementia. Defining vascular dementia: what is it? Before we dive into the specifics of stages of vascular dementia, we need to understand what vascular dementia is. Vascular dementia is a form of dementia similar to Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy body dementia. Vascular dementia is caused by impaired blood flow to the brain, usually from a stroke or mini-stroke (also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA)). When the lack of blood flow causes brain damage, vascular dementia can occur. Since the prevalence of strokes among the 60-year and older community nearly doubles by the time a person hits 80 years old, according to a Statista.com dataset, we’ll want to understand the difference between blood-flow-related vascular dementia and other memory-loss-related conditions. Vascular dementia vs. Alzheimer’s disease vs. dementia While some forms of dementia — such as Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy body dementia — are caused by excess protein build-ups and tangles in the brain, vascular dementia is different. Vascular dementia is caused by impaired blood flow to the brain as a result of another condition, such as a stroke. But, both vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer’s progress through several stages that last several years. Medication, occupational therapy, and group activities can be used to help soften the side effects of severe dementia and Alzheimer’s. The combination of these treatments helps stimulate the brain and keeps the brain active for as long as possible. So, while vascular dementia may develop over several years, a person can live a long, happy, and healthy life with the help of the right treatments, assisted living, and in-home care. Symptoms of vascular dementia With all three of these forms of dementia, but especially vascular dementia, a person can experience the following: What’s more, people with vascular dementia often encounter mobility problems. Mobility problems occur as a result of damage to the brain caused by decreased blood flow. Of course, mobility issues don’t always occur. With that being said, certain risk factors predispose individuals to experience mobility problems and vascular dementia as a whole. Risk factors for being diagnosed with vascular dementia Those who are most at risk for being diagnosed with vascular dementia include people with the following conditions and health histories: The following lifestyle factors can also increase the risk of a dementia diagnosis: While there’s no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, living a healthy lifestyle can decrease the chance of damaging blood vessels in the brain thereby reducing the risk of blood clots and other blood-related conditions in the brain that can lead to vascular dementia. The 7 stages of vascular dementia explained While scientists haven’t found a way (yet) to prevent dementia, you can help your loved one slow cognitive decline by understanding what’s involved in the seven stages of dementia. Let’s take a look at each of the vascular dementia stages in greater detail. Vascular dementia chart: The 7 stages of vascular dementia 1. Typical cognitive behavior/ no cognitive impairment (pre-dementia) Of the seven stages of vascular dementia, stage one presents the least noticeable symptoms of the seven stages. In this early stage of dementia, dementia patients exhibit normal behavior. You — and the person with vascular dementia — likely won’t notice the dementia, because the person doesn’t seem to present any visible symptoms. But, changes in the brain happen in stage one. In other words, though cognitive decline hasn’t yet occurred, early dementia can start years before any symptoms present themselves. 2. Extremely mild cognitive decline (forgetfulness) In stage two, the first signs of early dementia occur. People with vascular dementia experience general forgetfulness during this stage. Whether a person forgets where they placed items in the house or forgets other details, many people chalk the forgetfulness up to old age. While mild cognitive decline is common with age, we can’t emphasize enough how crucial checking with your trusted healthcare team is to ensure that this forgetfulness is attributed to old age instead of the onset of early dementia. 3. Mild cognitive decline (increased forgetfulness) As a person progresses through the seven different stages, mild cognitive decline occurs. While stage three is still considered early-stage dementia, memory loss starts to increase. For example, in stage three, a person might forget appointments that they made and misplace items around the house. Even so, a dementia diagnosis isn’t always made in stage three because the forgetfulness doesn’t always appear to be dementia-related. 4. Moderate cognitive decline (diagnosis stage) The fourth stage of vascular dementia is when most people receive a dementia diagnosis. That’s because dementia symptoms become more apparent. For example, people in stage four may find counting money to be challenging, forget to pay bills, or have a tough time remembering what they ate at their last meal. Stage four dementia tends to last a couple of years. Yet, vascular dementia progresses at different rates depending on the person. Some people progress to stage five slower than others. In short,