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Vascular Cognitive Impairment

  • Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (D Leifer and JE Safdieh, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a term used to capture the entire spectrum of cognitive impairment from mild to more severe forms and includes all forms of stroke (e.g., ischemic and hemorrhagic forms) associated and underlying cognitive impairment related with subclinical vascular brain injury. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment are common, especially as one ages. Therefore, both stroke and Alzheimer’s disease may be important causes of cognitive impairment in later life, and the concomitant occurrence of these disorders may synergize to increase the risk of poor cognition in later life. In this review we discuss the definition and clinical presentation, mechanisms, cardiovascular risk factors and possible prevention and treatment of VCI. VCI is a potentially treatable and preventable cause of cognitive impairment in later life, and familiarity with this condition will help the practitioner provide better care to patients.

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Conflicts of Interest

Muhammad U Farooq declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Philip B. Gorelick declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Director, Stroke and Vascular Neurology, Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, 220 Cherry Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA

    Muhammad U. Farooq

  2. Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, 220 Cherry Street SE Room H 3037, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA

    Philip B. Gorelick

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  1. Muhammad U. Farooq
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  2. Philip B. Gorelick
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Correspondence to Muhammad U. Farooq.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

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Farooq, M.U., Gorelick, P.B. Vascular Cognitive Impairment. Curr Atheroscler Rep 15, 330 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-013-0330-z

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