Generic Zerit

MULTI-INFARCT DEMENTIA: ASSESSMENT AND PREVENTION

Despite the picture given above it can still be difficult distinguishing between multi-infarct and Alzheimer's dementia. The initial assessment always includes a detailed medical and personal history. In multi-infarct dementia there is often a strong family history of heart attacks and strokes, especially on the male side. The younger the age that these events occurred the more relevant they become. There may be a history of smoking and of high blood pressure (hypertension) as well as chest pains (angina) and/or leg pains (claudication). Heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and strokes (cerebrovascular accidents) may have already occurred. A step-wise decrease in mental faculties associated with other evidence of a stroke help make the diagnosis. Doctors look for the evidence of other blood vessels having furred-up (the ones in the brain don't do it alone). A score is built up of likely linked events named after the man who invented it - the Hachinski score. The higher the score the more likely the mental impairment is due to multi-infarct dementia.
From the previous discussion it can be seen that there are risk factors for multi-infarct dementia in particular and strokes in general. Smoking, high blood pressure, excess fats in the blood (hyperlipidaemia and hypercholesterolaemia), obesity and a strong family history are relative risk factors. That means that within reason one can do something about them. One can't chose one's parents and grandparents but if they died from heart attacks or strokes when young then one should go to the doctor and have a full screen performed. High blood pressure can be lowered and smoking can be stopped, blood fats controlled and weight lost.
Once the damage has been done over many years it is often difficult to remedy. Following one stroke others still occur because the underlying problem (furred blood vessels) is still there. Some conditions such as sugar diabetes (diabetes mellitus) have an increased risk of stroke occurrence. In some people it may be possible to prevent further strokes occurring. Firstly, as many risk factors as possible are treated. In some people the furred-up blood vessels can literally undergo a re-bore to stop further blood clots forming on the furred-up surface. The blood can be made less sticky by the use of various drugs. Low dose aspirin is commonly used now to try and prevent mini-strokes (transient ischemic attacks). More rarely blood clotting is stopped by the use of the drug warfarin. There is some evidence that red wine may have a protective effect by increasing the amount of fat removed from the artery lining, the amount of red wine per day is disputed.
It must be hoped that as we become healthier in terms of diet, exercise and preventative medicine, then multiple strokes and multi-infarct dementia will become much less common.

*44/128/5*
GENERAL HEALTH

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
• Read the product information leaflet provided with the product before using it.

   

Information that this website contains are general information only and are not intended as a replacement for advise and recommendations made by your medical practitioner. We do not make any warranty or represent the accuracy of information supplied herein. We reserve the right to omit portions, correct errors or withdraw an entire page on this website as we see fit without prior notice. Information about a certain drug, its uses, recommended dosages and side effects do not serve as a substitute to a prescription or information relayed to you by a licensed medical practitioner. These materials are just a general overview about the product. Likewise, we do not endorse use of any drug found on this site. Use of this site is at your sole risk. We disclaim responsibility for reliance you place upon the information that we posted on this site. Always seek medical advice from a professional healthcare and discuss thoroughly your intention of using any of the medicine that is offered in this website.