Cognitive decline vascular dementia

Ligthart, S.A., Moll van Charante, E.P., Van Gool, W.A., and Richard, E., 2010. Treatment of cardiovascular risk factors to prevent cognitive decline and dementia a systematic review. Vascular Health and Risk Management. 6 775-785. 

Dementia is characterised by a progressive decline in cognitive function. The prevalence of dementia increases with age. With the demographical changes, the number of patients with dementia will increase. There are three major forms of dementia Alzheimer s disease, vascular dementia and a mixed dementia. Beside these, there are several less common subtypes of dementia. 

Ginkgo has been examined in a number of clinical populations, including Alzheimer s disease, vascular dementia, and age-associated cognitive decline. Most studies employed the extracts EGb 761 or LI 1370. Many have methodological flaws including limited sample size or insufficient description of randomization, patient characteristics, measurement techniques, or result presentation, but there are a number of well-controlled studies available for drawing preliminary conclusions (Field and Vadnal 1998). 

Erkinjuntti T, Kurz A, Gauthier S et al. (2002). Efficacy of galanthamine in probable vascular dementia and Alzheimer s disease combined with cerebrovascular disease a randomised trial. Lancet 359 1283-1290 Feigin V, Ratnasabapathy Y, Anderson G (2005). Does blood pressure lowering treatment prevent dementia or cognitive decline in patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease Journal of Neurology Science 15 151-155... 

Dementia, one of the world s most common neuropathic disorders, is also the most common cause of cognitive decline, affecting more than 50% of the world s population over the age of 85 years (Miller 2000). Alzheimer s Disease International (ADI) estimates that there are currently 30 million people with dementia in the world and this figure will increase to over 100 million by the year 2050. With increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of dementia will increase dramatically in the next few years which may increase the cost of care of patients with dementia more than the care of cancer and vascular patients put together. 

Small G, Erkinjuntti T, Kurz A, Lilienfeld S (2003) Galantamme in the treatmem of cognitive decline in patients with vascular dementia or Alzheimer s disease with cerebrovascular disease. CNS Dmgs 17 905-914... 

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