This type of cognitive impairment is caused by cerebrovascular disease, such as one or more strokes, which disrupt blood flow to the brain. The onset can be more abrupt than Alzheimer’s and the decline often occurs in a “stepwise” fashion, with periods of stability followed by sudden drops in function. Coordinated medical and behavioral care is essential.

Common Symptoms or Things to Look Out For:

• Cognitive deficits are temporally related to one or more cerebrovascular events.
• Evidence of cerebrovascular disease from history, physical examination, and/or neuroimaging.
• Often presents with slowed processing speed, impaired executive function, and attention deficits.
• May follow a stepwise deterioration pattern.