Vascular dementia warning - why you should never ignore difficulty concentrating

Vascular dementia is a type of dementia that’s caused by a reduced flow of blood to the brain, according to the NHS.

It’s the second most common type of dementia in the UK.

The condition tends to get worse over time, although it can start suddenly.

Difficulty concentrating could be an early warning sign of vascular dementia, and you should see a GP.

“How vascular dementia affects people varies depending on the different underlying causes and more generally from person to person,” said the Alzheimer’s Society.

“Symptoms may develop suddenly, for example after a stroke, or more gradually, such as with small vessel disease.

“Some symptoms may be similar to those of other types of dementia.

“Memory loss is common in the early stages of Alzheimer's, but is not usually the main early symptom of vascular dementia.”

One of the most common early symptoms of vascular dementia is problems with concentrating, it added.

These problems may be followed by short bursts of confusion.

Other early vascular dementia symptoms include having a slower speed of thought and difficulty following a series of steps - cooking a meal, for example.

As the dementia progresses, patients may experience memory loss, incontinence, and difficulty with mobility.

You should see a GP if you’re worried about the symptoms of dementia, especially if you’re over the age of 65.

While there’s no cure for dementia, early detection could help to slow down it’s progression.

A person’s risk of developing the condition doubles every five years after their turn 65, and men are slightly more at risk than women.

But, vascular dementia is uncommon in people under 65.