diagnostic criteria for vascular dementia

Introduction

Definite vascular dementia:

• clinical criteria for probable vascular dementia
• autopsy findings consistent with ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke & no other cause of dementia

Probable vascular dementia:

• dementia
  • decline from higher previous level of cognitive function b impairment of 2 or more cognitive domains
  • deficits severe enough to interfere with ADL
    • not due to physical effects of stroke alone
  • absence of delirium, psychosis, aphasia, & sensorimotor impairment that precludes neuropsychologic testing & absence of any other disorder capable of causing dementia
• cerebrovascular disease
  • focal neurologic signs consistent with stroke &
  • neuroimaging (CT, MRI) consistent with extensive vascular lesions
• temporal relationship of dementia with cerebrovascular disease
  • onset of dementia withiin 3 months of stroke
  • abrupt deterioration or fluctuating (TIAs) or stepwise progression of the cognitive deficit

Possible vascular dementia:

• dementia with focal neurologic signs
  • without confirmation of cerebrovascular disease by neuroimaging (CT, MRI)
  • without clear temporal relationship of dementia with cerebrovascular disease
  • with subtle onset & variable course of cognitive deficits

Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular disease

• clinical criteria for possible Alzheimer's disease
• clinical & neuroimaging (CT, MRI) evidence of cerebrovascular disease

Supporting features:

• subtle onset & variable course of cognitive deficits
• early course of gait disturbance
• unsteadiness & frequent falls
• urinary frequency, urgency & other urinary symptoms not explained by urologic disease
• pseudobulbar palsy
• personality & mood changes
  • abulia
  • depression
  • emotional lability
  • subcortical deficits including psychomotor retardation & abnormal executive function

Also see DSM IV criteria for vascular dementia

More general terms

• criteria

More specific terms

• DSM IV criteria for vascular dementia

Additional terms

• vascular dementia