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What Is The Life Expectancy Of Someone With Vascular Dementia?
Question: I have been diagnosed with vascular dementia. All the signs are there. I am a male age 73 and have had TIA's and a stroke 3 years ago. What is the average life expectancy with my condition?
Brief Answer:
Depends on stroke prevention and other medical conditions.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
In itself vascular dementia doesn't limit life expectancy. Not as long as you are still XXXXXXX and able to take care of yourself. In dementias in general life expectancy is not limited by the dementia itself but by the complications which arise when at the end stages the patient is immobilized and prone to suffer infections, in particular respiratory ones. It's these immobilization complications which are the cause of death, not the dementia.
When it comes to vascular dementia it is different from other types of dementia. It is different in that other types are progressive conditions which have an unstoppable progression. Vascular dementia on the other hand may stabilize and worsen only if you have another stroke. So the question on life expectancy depends on the risk for other strokes (or other medical conditions you might have) in the future. If the preventive medication you should be taking is effective and you do not suffer another stroke then life expectancy may not be affected much as long as you remain active.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Depends on stroke prevention and other medical conditions.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
In itself vascular dementia doesn't limit life expectancy. Not as long as you are still XXXXXXX and able to take care of yourself. In dementias in general life expectancy is not limited by the dementia itself but by the complications which arise when at the end stages the patient is immobilized and prone to suffer infections, in particular respiratory ones. It's these immobilization complications which are the cause of death, not the dementia.
When it comes to vascular dementia it is different from other types of dementia. It is different in that other types are progressive conditions which have an unstoppable progression. Vascular dementia on the other hand may stabilize and worsen only if you have another stroke. So the question on life expectancy depends on the risk for other strokes (or other medical conditions you might have) in the future. If the preventive medication you should be taking is effective and you do not suffer another stroke then life expectancy may not be affected much as long as you remain active.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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