Vascular dementia: A Mayo Clinic expert explains the risk factors that increase your chances of developing it.

Factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke are also associated with a higher risk of dementia . When blood vessels are damaged or blocked, the brain can be deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs, which can result in vascular dementia .

Vascular diseases contribute to approximately 25% of all dementia diagnoses .

" Vascular changes in the brain most often damage the axons — or 'cables' — that connect different parts of the brain," explains Dr. Stephen English , a vascular neurologist at Mayo Clinic . "So signals take longer to travel, which prevents the brain from functioning at its full speed."

Dr. English says signs of vascular dementia include problems with reasoning , planning, judgment, memory, and other mental processes.

"High blood pressure, high cholesterol , diabetes , smoking, obesity, and sleep apnea—these are modifiable risk factors that, if left untreated, can wear down the small blood vessels in the brain over time," explains Dr. English.

"We can, in many cases, intervene in these risk factors ," says Dr. English. "Medications and lifestyle changes can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol; we can treat sleep apnea with certain devices or surgeries; and we can help you quit smoking. These are some measures that can reduce the risk of developing vascular dementia ."

Common conditions that can lead to vascular dementia include strokes that block arteries in the brain ; bleeding in the brain ; and chronically narrowed or damaged blood vessels in the brain.

If you are at risk or show signs of vascular dementia, consult a neurologist .

Treatment typically focuses on managing health conditions and risk factors that contribute to vascular dementia. Managing conditions that affect the underlying health of the heart and blood vessels can, in some cases, slow the progression of vascular dementia and prevent further deterioration .

Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may prescribe medications to lower blood pressure , reduce cholesterol levels , prevent blood clotting and keep arteries clear , as well as help you control blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke are also associated with a higher risk of dementia . When blood vessels are damaged or blocked, the brain can be deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs, which can result in vascular dementia .