[Vascular dementia -- diagnosis, prevention and treatment].
OBJECTIVE
In this article, current trends in diagnosis, prevention and therapy of vascular dementias (VaD) are summarized.


METHODS
Based on the conceptual background and pathophysiology of VaD, current diagnostic approaches and results from recent large-scale randomised preventative and therapeutic studies are reviewed.


RESULTS
Epidemiological cohort studies and first intervention trials with anti-hypertensive drugs demonstrated the usefulness of antihypertensive drugs in the prevention of dementia. For the treatment of manifest VaD, no pharmaceutical substance has been approved to date, despite positive results in controlled studies with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term control of vascular risk factors before dementia has occurred appears to be the most important strategy to reduce the incidence of VaD.
Wolf
Henrike
H
Karolinska Institutet, Neurotec, Abteilung für Klinische Geriatrie, Huddinge, Schweden. henrike.wolf@neurotec.ki.se
Gertz
Hermann-Josef
HJ
D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors