Vascular dementia.

Hi can anyone tell me more about this please? Also is anyone on here living with this ?

[Nathan53]

Hello Michelle - for information I would check out alzheimers.org.uk they also have a helpline 0300 222 11 22 they have information and offer support with all types of dementia. There are treatments available to help with symptoms and may slow down the progress of the illness. Have you had a diagnosis or is it someone you know?

[Hidden in reply to Nathan53]

Hi thanks for your reply. It's my mother who has recently been diagnosed with mixed dementia which is vascular and slight alzheimer's. She has been given the medication to slow it down and has also been on sertraline for the past 12 months for her anxiety and depression symptoms. They recently did a MRI scan and found out.

[Nathan53 in reply to Hidden]

My Mother was diagnosed with mixed dementia (vascular & an element of Alzheimer's) 5 years before she died aged 93. She had very bad side effects on donepezil and also galantamine but was more settled with a drug called memantine. There are many books now being published about coping with dementia and I found a book by Oliver James useful, it's called Contented Dementia. We were lucky in Mum being generally content and happy for most of the time. Actively engaging in her past memories seemed to help her to relax as did music and YouTube karaoke sessions something which she showed no interest in prior to diagnosis. If there is anything in particular you want to ask or talk about I am happy to give my perspective either here or in private message. Take care

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

It is probably worth reading this article:

nhs.uk/conditions/vascular-...

Preventing or slowing its progress requires similar lifestyle changes to those for heart disease.

[Prada47 in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi Michael

Thanks for the link, I often wonder what part Low Blood Pressure plays in these symptoms/diagnosis for Dementia. My 140/85 has been lowered to around 95/65 with Medication. As I have never really read anything about Low Blood Pressure induced by Medication I must admit I am ignorant of the situation.

Regards

[Hidden in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you for your help. Your very kind. I'll read these ❤

[Handel in reply to Hidden]

Hi Michelle.

My dad was diagnosed with mixed dementia in 2015.

He was living alone but I always popped in 3 or 4 times a week to check on him. Following a fall at home, he was admitted to hospital and was kept there for a month before being moved to a home by the hospital.

He was unable to move back to his bungalow so I found a marvellous care home and he's lived happily there for 4 years now.

Dad's 97 now and although his dementia has progressed, he's happy and well cared for. He does think the care home mansion is his own place and just wonders who all the people are visiting him (they're fellow dementia residents!).

He's not on medication now as the tablets he was on were causing distress.

This isn't very helpful to you I'm afraid but at least it shows there can be some happiness if your mum's mental health deteriorates. Good luck and love to you and your mum. xxx

[Hidden in reply to Handel]

Thank you so much for your reply. Currently my mum is able to live with me and my dad. She can still do certain things just takes longer. She sometimes forgets to turn off a light. She tries to get involved in certain tasks around the house. Obviously not to the same capability as us but we are just happy that she still wants to do these things. It makes her feel useful and gives her happiness. We just are trying to take each day as it comes. Its been hard but as soon as we had the diagnosis everything changed. We actually had a reason for the way mum was being and could then deal with it better.

[Handel in reply to Hidden]

Hi Michelle. Thanks for your reply.

Forgetfulness is just a part of getting older I think. If your mum likes puzzles, word finders etc., activities like that could help keep the brain ticking over.

It's really helpful having that reason so you're able to make sense of little changes in behaviour.

I found I was making excuses for dad's eccentric behaviour as it took quite a while before he was diagnosed.

All the best to you and your lovely family xxx