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A simple google search can give you alot of information, but TBH it's a tough one, My MIL has Vascular dementia.. and we see huge step down, so basically expect anything. She has had 4 major strokes, 100 plus TIA's and honestly most folks succumb to the strokes before the dementia. We have been lucky her 1st stroke was in 2009, latest was Dec 17th 2016.. left side very weak but she is gaining strenght. Will she ever walk again probably not but we have high hopes for assisted transfers. She went from being very combative ( black eyes and scratches to prove it) to now after this latest one seems abit clingy, some confustion, but no anger to date ( thank goodness!) She does fairly well in the morning but as noonish rolls around she starts sundowning, getting confused, wanting us in her sight at all times ect. Hope this helps.
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Vascular dementia doesn't have stages and the steps downs are based on further brain damage from continuing strokes or TIAs or whatever other mechanism is causing the brain to be deprived of blood and oxygen.
My mom has never had a diagnosis but based on her past history I assume vascular dementia, she had an MRI that "lit up like a christmas tree" and several scary TIAs and perhaps a small stroke or two. Mom's first major step down was physical, not mental. At the time we all assumed she was dying, her BP was dropping alarmingly and she couldn't get out of bed. Since then she has had her ups and downs physically but has gradually lost her ability to think. I was sure she would stroke out when her doctor recommended palliative care and took her off her crestor, aggrenox, and almost all her BP meds several years ago but she has stabilized and I am starting to believe she will make it to her 100th birthday in 2019.
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cwillie.....Your Mom sounds like my MIL,lol Tough birds they are. Even with our latest scares I have no doubt she will last another 10-20yrs. With Grannie the first 3 strokes really didnt do alot of damage physically, but the TIA's and this 4th has been a doozy along with the UTI's. For grannie it was mental, now physical and more mental. As she put's it the strokes and TIA's are eatting her brain, her words not mine, but she gets it.
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