I read your query carefully and I understand your concern. Small vessel disease (or chronic microvascular ischemia, same thing), means narrowing of small blood vessels leading to low blood supply to the more distant areas they supply. It is a common finding with age so having it doesn t necessarily mean it s causing dementia (which usually involves memory problems). Only when it is advanced enough is it a cause for dementia and usually in small vessel disease memory is not the first to be impaired there are other signs including slow movement, rigidity etc. From a practical point of view to slow down its progression you have to address possible risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking etc which influence it. Otherwise it s part of aging and as I said it s not necessarily the cause of her forgetfulness. The CT doesn t make the diagnosis, it is done to exclude other factors like tumor, big vessel stroke. There are many types of dementia, the most common Alzheimer s which has memory impairment as an early and common feature which shows nothing on CT scan, it s the neurological exam which further directs the diagnostic process. I hope to have been of help.