Treatment of vascular dementia: the route of prevention.

Vascular dementia (VaD), rather than being considered as a univocal nosological entity, should be regarded as a heterogeneous clinical entity which differs in clinical-pathological phenotype as well as in pathophysiological mechanisms, but shares cerebrovascular disease (CVD), resulting from vascular or circulatory pathology, as the cause of dementia. The aim of this review is to discuss VaD treatment focusing particularly on more prevalent ischemic forms. Due to the fact that there are presently no treatments capable of obtaining considerable results once VaD is clinically established, specific emphasis will be given to the therapeutic strategies aimed at the prevention of CVD risk factors. The therapeutic strategies aimed at slowing the progression of the disease will also be discussed. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.