Multi-Infarct Dementia

Multi-Infarct Dementia

Multi-Infarct Dementia

Multi-infarct dementia (MID), a type of vascular dementia, happens when a number of small strokes causes damage in the blood vessels in the brain, resulting in the gradual reduction in brain function.
The mini strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIA) that lead to MID show temporary symptoms that may be experienced as:
A sudden appearance of symptoms — from misplacing items to getting lost to the inability to perform tasks completed frequently in the past — could point to multi-infarct dementia. As with the progression in damage from the subsequent strokes, the severity of the symptoms in the individual can frighten or harm others, but there are ways to alleviate symptoms and provide effective care for both the individual and the caregivers.
Prevalence
Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia, following Alzheimer’s disease, in people over the age of 65.
Symptoms of Multi-Infarct Dementia:
The clinical features of dementia include:
For people with MID, the symptoms can present suddenly after a small stroke; and despite potentially showing some small improvements for a time, subsequent strokes will compound the damage from earlier strokes as well as damage new areas. It is not uncommon to see small bursts of accelerated deterioration, and typically the outlook is not good because of the rate of decline and degree of damage.
Causes of Multi-Infarct Dementia:
Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a repeated, reduced flow of blood to the brain usually as a result of a series of small strokes. Multi-infarct means that more than one area in the brain has been damaged.
Brain cells can be damaged or die if the flow of blood is stopped or reduced significantly for a few seconds or more, and typically the damage sustained is permanent.
A stroke can be silent, which means it affects such a small area of the brain that it goes unnoticed. Over time, many silent strokes can lead to MID. Large strokes that cause noticeable physical and neurological symptoms can also lead to MID.
Risk Factors for Multi-Infarct Dementia:
The following medical conditions are risk factors that render a person more vulnerable to developing multi-infarct dementia:
One of the most significant impacts a person can make on their own health to reduce their risk of multi-infarct dementia is to look after their heart and general health. The earlier in life a person takes preventative steps, the better.
Risk factors from a person’s lifestyle include:
Prevention
Reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) by:
Diagnosing Multi-Infarct Dementia:
Multi-infarct dementia is diagnosed in a specialist setting and usually by an older-age or later-life psychiatrist. Each individual is different, so the impact on their faculties and the severity of the symptoms will vary tremendously from person to person.
There is no single test doctors can use that is specific to MID to establish a diagnosis, and a doctor will usually use a combination of the following:
Ruling Out Other Causes of Dementia
It is not uncommon for your doctor to order lab tests to find out if any other condition is contributing to or causing the dementia. Possible causes include:
Ruling Out Other Types of Vascular Dementia
Brain scans are the most likely indicators of the type of vascular dementia an individual has — related to where the blood flow blockages are situated and how many there are — including:
Treatment of Multi-Infarct Dementia:
Multi-infarct dementia currently has no cure, and the aim of therapy is to treat risk factors and to prevent future strokes. This can be achieved by a number of medical approaches and lifestyle changes.
Medications
It is important to note that medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s disease are ineffective at treating multi-infarct dementia.
Lifestyle changes
Home setting
Providing support to people with multi-infarct dementia in the home setting helps them cope. This can usually be achieved by:
In addition to the range of symptoms a person with multi-infarct dementia can experience, and the different ways this can impact their life, it is also possible that the individual can experience additional medical complications that cause the individual to require full-time in-home or residential care.
Symptoms of Multi-Infarct Dementia:
The clinical features of dementia include:
For people with MID, the symptoms can present suddenly after a small stroke; and despite potentially showing some small improvements for a time, subsequent strokes will compound the damage from earlier strokes as well as damage new areas. It is not uncommon to see small bursts of accelerated deterioration, and typically the outlook is not good because of the rate of decline and degree of damage.
Causes of Multi-Infarct Dementia:
Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a repeated, reduced flow of blood to the brain usually as a result of a series of small strokes. Multi-infarct means that more than one area in the brain has been damaged.
Brain cells can be damaged or die if the flow of blood is stopped or reduced significantly for a few seconds or more, and typically the damage sustained is permanent.
A stroke can be silent, which means it affects such a small area of the brain that it goes unnoticed. Over time, many silent strokes can lead to MID. Large strokes that cause noticeable physical and neurological symptoms can also lead to MID.
Risk Factors for Multi-Infarct Dementia:
The following medical conditions are risk factors that render a person more vulnerable to developing multi-infarct dementia:
One of the most significant impacts a person can make on their own health to reduce their risk of multi-infarct dementia is to look after their heart and general health. The earlier in life a person takes preventative steps, the better.
Risk factors from a person’s lifestyle include:
Prevention
Reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) by:
Diagnosing Multi-Infarct Dementia:
Multi-infarct dementia is diagnosed in a specialist setting and usually by an older-age or later-life psychiatrist. Each individual is different, so the impact on their faculties and the severity of the symptoms will vary tremendously from person to person.
There is no single test doctors can use that is specific to MID to establish a diagnosis, and a doctor will usually use a combination of the following:
Ruling Out Other Causes of Dementia
It is not uncommon for your doctor to order lab tests to find out if any other condition is contributing to or causing the dementia. Possible causes include:
Ruling Out Other Types of Vascular Dementia
Brain scans are the most likely indicators of the type of vascular dementia an individual has — related to where the blood flow blockages are situated and how many there are — including:
Treatment of Multi-Infarct Dementia:
Multi-infarct dementia currently has no cure, and the aim of therapy is to treat risk factors and to prevent future strokes. This can be achieved by a number of medical approaches and lifestyle changes.
Medications
It is important to note that medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s disease are ineffective at treating multi-infarct dementia.
Lifestyle changes
Home setting
Providing support to people with multi-infarct dementia in the home setting helps them cope. This can usually be achieved by:
In addition to the range of symptoms a person with multi-infarct dementia can experience, and the different ways this can impact their life, it is also possible that the individual can experience additional medical complications that cause the individual to require full-time in-home or residential care.