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Classification and Subtypes of Vascular Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2005

Anders Wallin
Affiliation:
Göteborg University, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
Veronica Milos
Affiliation:
Göteborg University, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
Magnus Sjögren
Affiliation:
Göteborg University, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
Leonardo Pantoni
Affiliation:
Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Timo Erkinjuntti
Affiliation:
Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

Vascular dementia (VaD) is a heterogeneous entity with a large clinicopathological spectrum. It has been classified and subclassified in many different ways. The difficulty in identifying the various subtypes is a problem in the diagnostic process. For clinical purposes, it is desirable to find subtypes of VaD that are homogeneous enough to allow meaningful comparisons across studies. This article presents candidates for such subtypes: poststroke dementia, subcortical VaD, and combined Alzheimer's disease and VaD (AD + VaD). The first two candidates are easy to identify. Poststroke dementia occurs with cognitive decline in close temporal relation to a transient ischemic attack. Subcortical VaD has a relatively homogeneous clinical picture for which detailed criteria are suggested. AD + VaD is more difficult to identify but is possible, sometimes with the aid of neuroimaging and/or biological markers.

Type
BACKGROUND AND CURRENT CONCEPTS OF ETIOPATHOGENESIS
Copyright
© 2003 International Psychogeriatric Association

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