This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by STEWART, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by STEWART, R.
The British Journal of Psychiatry (2002) 180: 152-156
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

OLD AGE PSYCHIATRY PAPERS

Vascular dementia: a diagnosis running out of time{dagger}

ROBERT STEWART, MRCPsych

Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7848 0240; fax: +44 (0)20 7701 0167

Correspondence: e-mail: r.stewart{at}iop.kcl.ac.uk

Declaration of interest R.S. is supported by a Research Training Fellowship in Clinical Epidemiology from the Wellcome Trust.

{dagger} See editorial, pp. 97–98, this issue.

ABSTRACT

Background The concept of vascular dementia has a long history but its usefulness as a diagnostic category has been called into question.

Aims To evaluate vascular disease as a risk factor for dementia and the interface between cerebrovascular pathology and Alzheimer's disease.

Method The literature on this topic was selectively reviewed and synthesised.

Results Risk factors for cerebrovascular disease are also risk factors for dementia. However, the course of dementia, once it has developed, appears to be frequently determined by Alzheimer's disease.

Conclusions As a public health measure, modification of vascular risk represents a potentially powerful means to prevent dementia through delaying its onset. However, an effect on progression of dementia, once it has developed, has yet to be established. The traditional view of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease as distinguishable conditions is becoming steadily less tenable.


Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue
ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2002 180: 0. [Full Text]  

Old age psychiatry
ALISTAIR BURNS and IAN G. McKEITH
BJP 2002 180: 97-98. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 HypertensionHome page
R. Stewart, Q.-L. Xue, K. Masaki, H. Petrovitch, G. W. Ross, L. R. White, and L. J. Launer
Change in Blood Pressure and Incident Dementia: A 32-Year Prospective Study
Hypertension, August 1, 2009; 54(2): 233 - 240.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
B. S. Silbert, D. A. Scott, L. A. Evered, M. S. Lewis, and P. T. Maruff
Preexisting Cognitive Impairment in Patients Scheduled for Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Anesth. Analg., May 1, 2007; 104(5): 1023 - 1028.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
A. Busse, A. Hensel, U. Guhne, M. C. Angermeyer, and S. G. Riedel-Heller
Mild cognitive impairment: Long-term course of four clinical subtypes
Neurology, December 26, 2006; 67(12): 2176 - 2185.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
F M Nilsson, L V Kessing, T M Sorensen, P K Andersen, and T G Bolwig
Enduring increased risk of developing depression and mania in patients with dementia
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, July 1, 2002; 73(1): 40 - 44.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
S. Sikdar
Diagnosis of vascular dementia
The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2002; 180(5): 466 - 466.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
A. BURNS and I. G. McKEITH
Old age psychiatry
The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 1, 2002; 180(2): 97 - 98.
[Full Text] [PDF]