Vascular dementia
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In this section:
What is vascular dementia?
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia.
For every 10 people living with dementia, two of those will have vascular dementia.
Vascular dementia is caused by damage to blood vessels in the brain.
Our blood contains oxygen and nutrients that help brain cells to work properly. When blood vessels are damaged, less blood reaches the brain. This can affect how brain cells work.
If this damage spreads, over time it can lead to symptoms of vascular dementia, like memory and thinking problems.
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Types of vascular dementia
Different types of vascular dementia are caused by problems with blood flow in the brain.
The most common conditions that cause brain damage in vascular dementia are:
Not everyone is told the specific cause for their vascular dementia, and it is possible to have more than one type of vascular dementia.
Post-stroke vascular dementia
Strokes are a common cause of vascular dementia.
During a stroke, blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly cut off. There are two main types of stroke:
- When a large artery within the brain becomes blocked, blood can’t get around the brain efficiently. This can happen for different reasons, including a blood clot or a build-up of fatty deposits. This is called an ischaemic stroke.
- If an artery bursts and blood leaks into the brain, this diverts blood away from other areas of the brain. It could also allow any waste being cleared in the blood to re-enter the brain. This is called a haemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke.
Both types of stroke damage nearby brain cells. This leads to symptoms like headaches and dizziness. Other symptoms will depend on where in the brain the stroke occurs.
If someone has sudden problems with memory and thinking after a stroke that do not improve over time, they may be diagnosed with post-stroke vascular dementia.
Can a single stroke cause dementia?
Although a single stroke can cause vascular dementia, it is more likely to develop after more than one, or multiple, strokes.
Dementia after several strokes is sometimes known as “multi-infarct” dementia. The word ‘infarct’ means that an area of the brain has had its blood supply cut off and the brain has become damaged.
People who have a stroke are more likely to have more strokes. So, they have a higher risk of developing dementia in the future.
If you’ve had a stroke, it’s really important to take steps to look after your brain health.
Can transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) make someone more likely to develop dementia?
Sometimes people can have mini-strokes, also known as transient ischaemic attacks or TIAs. TIAs have the same symptoms as strokes but are reversible and symptoms go away after a day or two.
People who have TIAs are at increased risk of having a stroke in the future, so also need a proper medical assessment and to look after their brain health.
Roughly one in three people who have a stroke go on to develop dementia.
Blood vessel diseases
Blood vessel diseases can also cause the brain damage that leads to vascular dementia.
Some common blood vessel diseases are explained below. Click on each box to find out more.
Downloads
Dementia information
The information in this booklet is for anyone who wants to know more about vascular dementia, including people living with vascular dementia, their carers, families and friends.
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PDF, 753 KB, 15 pages
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This information was updated in December 2025 and is due to be reviewed in December 2027. It was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
