Drugs and vascular dementia

Between 20 and 35% of all dementias are vascular in origin, their etiology is due to cerebrovascular disease and the risk factors are known (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, smoking, or hyperlipidemia). Primary and secondary preventions are the basis of therapeutics. Symptomatic treatment is emerging, notably in the field of cognitive disorders. In that respect, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and more recently acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, are in the process of being recognized as first-line treatments of established vascular dementia. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.