Vascular dementia

RetiredTeacher

My husband has had several strokes and has VD. He was diagnosed a few yrs ago. I read many of the alz posts and I understand dementia shares many common behaviors and the ultimate end is the same but instead of memory issues, my husband presents more executive function issues. Difficulty problem solving, multi step directions, receptive and expressive language, common sense, cause and effect etc. Over the past couple of years I see a much greater physical decline than cognitive decline. Lower leg weakness affecting ability to walk any distance, stand without leaning on something, difficulty getting up from sitting, shuffling very slow gait, etc. Anybody out there with a similar situation? I went and checked out 3 MC facilities this week to have a planB. 2 not very nice, one lovely, that I would want to go. He's not ready for MC yet. Given his VD, it's likely he may need a nursing home more than a MC home. If he should fall and break a leg or hip ... i guess I should also be touring SNFs. Can any of you with VD spouses relate? Have any of you dealt with physical decline greater than cognitive decline? Struggling to understand. VD symptoms often present differently than alz.

midge333

My wife has vascular dementia from long standing type I diabetes. Her initial symptoms were loss of executive function as you described above. Later on she developed memory loss. She has not had the physical decline that you described.

SDianeL

Something to consider: if he doesn’t understand cause and effect, would he wander off or try to leave the facility? MC facilities are locked so they can’t leave. Nursing homes are not secure. He may develop memory issues as the disease progresses.

Chammer

@RetiredTeacher DH isn't diagnosed but I see cognitive changes, more so executive functioning than memory loss, and more likely due to vascular changes from diabetes type 2 and alcohol use. He also deals with very significant physical decline also from diabetes and alcohol use. I recently reviewed the stages and he met many of Stage 4 behaviors. He has always had a very challenging personality so it's hard to know if it is stage 4 jerk personality or stage 4 changes due to brain changes.

I don't know that we will ever have an official diagnosis. He has had so many health issues for the past 2 yrs with so many tests, doctors visits, surgeries, months of IV meds, physical therapy appts I can't imagine beginning the process to pinpoint these changes.

RetiredTeacher

Ty all who responded. We've been chasing his health decline for 7 yrs. So many tests of every kind. He's done with tests. They can't fix him. He's 67 and frail like 87. We try to make the most of the life he has left. Perhaps the physical decline will get him before the end of the line of cognitive decline. Don't mean to be pessimistic, just realistic. This is so tough for both the spouse and the caregiver.

RetiredTeacher

Marla13

Retired Teacher, you’re not being pessimistic you are being realistic. My DH has peripheral artery disease and had his left leg amputated in 2013. In 2021, he was diagnosed with MCI and sent to a vascular surgeon who determined his left carotid artery was 85% blocked and performed a procedure to clear it. It did seem to help improve his memory a bit but his executive functioning has still not improved. Like your DH he seems to be physically failing more and more. I don’t think much more can be done for him although he is still doctor shopping for a fix. All we can do is our best which I am sure you are doing.

ronda b

My DH has VD and Alzheimer's. I see more of the executive decline than the memory loss. But there are days that both are bad. He is 74 and is aging very fast. Weaker by the day it seems. Uses furniture to hold on to. Has cane's refuses to use them. One day at a time.

RetiredTeacher

I hear you my friends. One day at a time. Trying to find the joy in life, even if it's fleeting, a few moments a day. It tough when our loved ones can't move much. Hard to do activities, go places, no more walks. Just so hard to see them decline whether it's physical, cognitive or both.