Dad just diagnosed with Vascular Denentia

[KathrynHP]

Hi There
I have just joined this group in a bid to get some help and advice about my dear old Dad.
He was just diagnosed with V.Dementia, and we are wondering why the doctor has´nt prescribed any medication. I realise that this is a degenerative disease and I am frantically reading up on the disease.
I am reading reposts about some drugs working and I am wondering if any one else is using medication for V.Dementia.
Many thanks, I am sure I will be on this site alot in order to help my loving Dad.
Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.
x

[Uratopper]

Hi there. I see that, like me, you're new to TP and although I can't offer you advice I'm sure lots of others will.

A worrying time for you.
Best wishes.

[jeany123]

Hi Kathryn welcome to TP my husband has vascular dementia the specialist said that no medication would help so he was not prescribed any , I don't think there are any specifically for VD , there seems to be quite a few that people with alzheimers can try,

Jeany x

[sue38]

Hi Kathryn and welcome to Talking Point.

Have you seen this factsheet on Drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease? This paragraph may help

Are these drugs effective for other types of dementia?

The acetylcholinesterase inhibitors were developed specifically to treat Alzheimer's disease. We do not yet know whether they can be helpful for people with other forms of dementia, although there is evidence that they may be effective in dementia with Lewy bodies and dementia related to Parkinson's disease, for which rivastigmine is licensed. NICE guidelines allow acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to be offered to people with Lewy body or Parkinson's disease dementia if they have distressing symptoms or challenging behaviours. (See factsheet 403, What is dementia with Lewy bodies? and 442, Rarer causes of dementia.)
There are several trials examining cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of vascular dementia, but the benefits are very modest, except in the individuals with a combination of both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Cholinesterase inhibitors are not licensed for the treatment of vascular dementia. (See factsheet 402, What is vascular dementia?) Research is continuing.

Not very promising I'm afraid .

[jenniferpa]

Hi and welcome from me as well.

Any drug treatment for vascular dementia is normally targeted towards any underlying health issues that might contribute to the vascular dementia. Heart conditions, hypertension and diabetes are some of those health issues.

[Contrary Mary]

Hello and welcome to TP. Sadly, there are no drugs specifically for Vascular Dementia. Sometimes, people appear to have been given drugs but they generally have mixed dementia including VaD. As Jennifer says, we were advised to carry on having Mum's BP, cholesterol, diabetes etc checked and kept under control to try and stem the progress of the dementia.

[mothergoose]

Hello and welcome

My mother also had Vasc dem she too was not on any medication as I was told that because of the mini strokes (TIA's) medication would be of no help!! Unfortunately with Vasc Dem (or in mum's case) each time she had a TIA another part of her brain died and no medication can make it better.
There are many wonderful people on TP that will always be here to help/listen to you, so keep posting.
Big hugs

Mothergoose

[choccy]

Hi and welcome. My Dad has Vas dementia also. He just has aspirin to thin his blood to help avoid mini strokes. I'm so sorry about your fathers diagnosis. I hope you will find TP a great strength in the months to come.

[krissymc]

hi, my mum was diagnosed with vas dementia 2 years ago, she has changed so much in this time, from being independent, working , own flat, she is now in a care home, has been for past 6 weeks. she has settled into the home really well, she considers it has her work place where she has too sleep. She lives in her own little world most of the time but mixes with a couple of residents. The only problem she seems to have is that she has constant urine infections and seems to be on antibiotics all the time.My worry is that instead of the infection the doctor says she has that she could be having mini strokes instead.

[KathrynHP]

Many thanks for all your replies. Its so hard to know what to do......I am seeing that each case is individual. Its so confusing, my Dad seems so normal at times and would think that nothing was wrong, and then he wont remember what he had for dinner 10 mins ago. I know someone else thats had V.Dementia and has lives alone for 5 years with it, but then another case someone went downhill rapidly.....
Many thanks once again for all your replies
x

[meme]

my mother has vascular cognitive impairment...vascular dementia?