Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia. Most cases of vascular dementia are not caused by directly inherited faulty genes.
Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain which damages nerve cells. This can happen because of a stroke or damage to blood vessels deep in the brain.
Most cases of vascular dementia are not caused by a faulty gene passed down from a parent who has the condition.
However, there are risk genes that affect a person’s chances of having:
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a stroke
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heart disease
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high blood pressure
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or high cholesterol.
All of these conditions can contribute to both an increased risk, and the development of, vascular dementia.
There are rare faulty genetic disorders passed down in families that can cause vascular dementia, by damaging blood vessels in the brain.
One is called CADASIL which stands for ‘cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy’. CADASIL only affects around 1,000 people in the UK.
Genes and dementia
The booklet gives an overview of what genes are and how they are involved in the different diseases that cause dementia, along with information on genetic testing and current research.
Order health information
Alzheimer’s Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
Dementia Research Infoline
Do you have questions about genes and dementia? Or are you keen to get involved in research studies?
Contact the Dementia Research Infoline
9am-5pm, Monday to Friday
0300 111 5 111
This information was updated in November 2024 and is due for review in November 2026. It does not replace any advice that doctors, pharmacists, or nurses may give you. Please contact us if you would like a version with references.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
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