Vascular dementia and its implications: contributions to collective Health in Brazil

Vascular dementia is part of a brain disease group called dementia. This cerebrovascular pathology is the second most frequent among diseases that make up this group, second only to Alzheimer’s disease. Among the causes that motivate the emergence of this disease, there is systemic arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and advanced age. Thus, this study aimed to understand the factors that trigger the development of vascular dementia, in addition to its implications and repercussions on the life quality of both the affected individual and family members. We sought to investigate diagnoses and treatments to understand other aspects that are associated with vascular dementia. The research was developed using a qualitative approach, with a bibliographical study on the subject in books and scientific journals. We concluded that dementia mainly affects the elderly, requiring an attentive care aimed at this public. With that, family members, caregivers and health professionals should be aware of the first symptoms and care that patients need, as there must be a broad and multidisciplinary treatment. We were able to verify that there are modifiable factors in old age that prevent and/or minimize symptoms, such as: physical exercise, cognitive training, diet, social context, emotional state and cardiovascular factors.