Neuropsychological aspects of vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Neuropsychologically, VaD has been characterized traditionally as having a "patchy" pattern of cognitive deficits. Newly developed diagnostic criteria for VaD suggest that this "patchy" pattern is associated with one type of VaD-multiple cortical infarctions, and that several additional subtypes of VaD exist, each featuring a characteristic pattern of neuropsychological deficits. Strategic infarct dementias have unique features that reflect the specific brain region affected. Lacunar state and Binswanger's disease produce subcortical dementia with disproportionate executive dysfunction. The profile of neuropsychological disturbances observed in VaD patients provides important insight into the localization and pathophysiology of the underlying cerebrovascular disease.