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Vascular cognitive impairment, a cardiovascular complication
- Source :
- World journal of psychiatry. 6(2)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Over the past two decades, the term vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) has been used to refer to a spectrum of cognitive decline characterized by executive dysfunction, associated with vascular pathology. With 30% of stroke survivors showing cognitive impairments, it is regarded as the most common cause of cognitive impairment. This is a narrative review of available literature citing sources from PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar. VCI has a high prevalence both before and after a stroke and is associated with great economic and caregiver burden. Despite this, there is no standardized diagnostic criteria for VCI. Hypertension has been identified as a risk factor for VCI and causes changes in cerebral vessel structure and function predisposing to lacuna infarcts and small vessel haemorrhages in the frontostriatal loop leading to executive dysfunction and other cognitive impairments. Current trials have shown promising results in the use of antihypertensive medications in the management of VCI and prevention of disease progression to vascular dementia. Prevention of VCI is necessary in light of the looming dementia pandemic. All patients with cardiovascular risk factors would therefore benefit from cognitive screening with screening instruments sensitive to executive dysfunction as well as prompt and adequate control of hypertension.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Cardiovascular Complication
business.industry
Cognition
Minireviews
030204 cardiovascular system & hematology
medicine.disease
Hyperintensity
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
medicine
Dementia
Cognitive decline
Risk factor
Intensive care medicine
Psychiatry
Vascular dementia
business
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Executive dysfunction
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 22203206
- Volume :
- 6
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- World journal of psychiatry
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0f22ea7bc281a9f6faa7cecbb13c659e