Vascular Dementia is usually a general term applied to a specific group of illnesses with similar inception & symptoms

This form of dementia is usually attributed to a reduced or interrupted blood supply to the brain and accounts for 18% of all dementia's in younger people in UK. A stroke is the most common cause and once begun the disease progresses within an established pattern similar to Alzheimer's Disease

The earliest distinguishing characteristic is an irregular loss of mental ability akin to temporary aberrations often with focal neurological indicators

Those mainly at risk include people with untreated high blood pressure and recent studies also suggest there may be a higher incidence among certain minority ethnic groups (Patel et al, 1998)

Early diagnosis can lead to a full recovery. Diagnosis follows a similar pattern to other forms of dementia, and is often aimed at excluding other variations. Test will include blood samples and neuroimaging, though a whole sub-set of further tests may be employed

Treatment includes measures to prevent further strokes, antiplatelet drugs and also asprin

For an in depth report on this form of dementia have a look at

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3150.htm

presenting research by Kannayiram Alagiakrishnan MD, which is both extensive and relatively easy to understand