Health Preservation and Anti-Aging Guide

Author: Ma Yongxing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Section 1 Emphasizes "Stroke-Induced Dementia"
Stroke can lead to 10% to 20% of cases developing vascular dementia. A report mentioned that among survivors of ischemic stroke, the incidence of vascular dementia can reach up to 26.3%. Vascular dementia accounts for about one-third of all dementias, with higher incidence rates in males than in females. Early and effective treatment of cerebrovascular accidents, including ischemic stroke, cerebral infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage, may reduce the percentage of stroke patients developing vascular dementia. While emphasizing the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, we should not overlook the importance of preventing and treating vascular dementia in stroke patients. In other words, attention should not be solely focused on preventing stroke but should also include measures to prevent cognitive decline. This means that while treating stroke, vascular dementia should also be prevented. In this way, the probability of stroke patients developing dementia can be reduced. Of course, the best approach is to provide effective prevention and treatment for patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes to minimize the incidence of stroke. This is a more important and effective strategy for preventing "stroke-induced dementia." Additionally, the four cornerstones of elderly health care—reasonable diet, moderate exercise, maintaining psychological balance, and quitting smoking and drinking—play a significant role in preventing stroke. Middle-aged and elderly friends should pay special attention to these aspects.
Section 2 Distinguishes "Stroke-Induced Dementia"
Vascular dementia includes all dementias related to vascular factors, such as ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and dementia caused by acute or chronic cerebral ischemia. The vascular factors primarily refer to the pathological changes in the brain's blood vessels but also include microcirculation and blood flow conditions (e.g., high viscosity and prethrombotic states). There are many treatment methods for vascular lesions and blood flow issues, which can be prevented to some extent, with relatively favorable prognoses. However, there are a few cases that require special mention to avoid confusion.
1. Be Vigilant About "Stroke-Induced Dementia"
After suffering from a thrombotic stroke, cerebral infarction, or mild cerebral hemorrhage, if the patient is conscious but exhibits memory impairment, close monitoring of the condition is necessary. If the stroke improves but memory and other cognitive functions worsen, especially when there is a significant initial improvement in mental status followed by a decline in memory and cognitive functions, vascular dementia should be suspected. However, it must be noted that stroke patients may exhibit depressive symptoms, which can lead to cognitive decline. When antidepressant medication is administered, memory and cognitive function can improve rapidly and significantly. It is important to distinguish between these two scenarios.
2. Distinguishing Mild Vascular Dementia from Age-Related Memory Impairment
Many elderly friends already have significant or relatively severe memory impairment before a stroke but have not yet reached the level of mild cognitive impairment discussed in Chapter 6, nor have they developed the level of dementia mentioned earlier. Their memory impairment is merely general and falls under the category of age-related memory impairment (AAMl) discussed in Chapter 5. If, after a thrombotic stroke, the degree of memory impairment does not worsen, especially when a memory quotient test was conducted before the illness, and the memory quotient after the illness shows no significant decline compared to before, and no further deterioration is observed during observation, it is likely that the patient has not developed another condition due to the stroke, such as vascular dementia. Memory impairment may simply be a result of aging, although it still requires