Frequency of Pure Vascular Cognitive Impairment: An Autopsy Study

A new study shows that pure vascular cognitive impairment is common.

Several different pathologies can be associated with dementia, including Alzheimer disease (AD) changes, vascular factors, and presence of Lewy bodies. In many patients, different pathologies may co-exist, and the frequency of pure vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is unclear. These authors analyzed two well-established databases, the Religious Orders Study and the Rush Memory and Aging project, that enrolled individuals aged 65 years and over who were free of dementia at baseline and underwent structured neuropsychological exams annually. The researchers divided the pathology specimens into three groups: neurodegenerative change only, vascular pathology without AD changes or other degenerative pathology, or mixed pathology. The authors c…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Frequency of Pure Vascular Cognitive Impairment: An Autopsy Study

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Reviewing Author