Alzheimer’s Research UK has funded more than £17.9 million of pioneering research to help advance our understanding of vascular dementia.

Research is looking at how blood vessels can become damaged in the brain and how this damage causes the symptoms seen in vascular dementia. Our scientists are also working to develop new and innovative ways of preventing and treating vascular dementia.

We believe that research will make breakthroughs possible. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we will continue to fund pioneering studies into vascular dementia.

What is vascular dementia?

This booklet aims to help you understand more about vascular dementia. It gives an overview of the causes, symptoms and treatments.

Download in English
Download in Welsh
What-is-vascular-dementia-sidebar

Research projects

Using stem cells and specialised chambers to unravel dementia

Researchers at the University of Manchester are using sophisticated chambers to monitor how toxic proteins spread in dementia and the complex relationship between brain cells and their blood supply.

Alzheimer’s disease / Dementia with Lewy bodies / Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease / Frontotemporal dementia / Posterior cortical atrophy / Primary progressive aphasia / Vascular dementia

Using data from brain donations to investigate the impact of multiple underlying causes of dementia

Use information from the Brains for Dementia Research Programme to find out which disease combinations lead to a more rapid decline of memory and thinking skills.

Alzheimer’s disease / Dementia with Lewy bodies / Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease / Frontotemporal dementia / Vascular dementia

Using brain scans to investigate changes in the brain over time

Prof Nick Fox and Prof Jon Schott are studying brain scans to investigate changes in the brain over time in a longitudinal amyloid-PET/MRI study of the 1946 birth cohort.

Alzheimer’s disease / Dementia with Lewy bodies / Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease / Frontotemporal dementia / Posterior cortical atrophy / Vascular dementia

Treating hearing loss in people at a high risk of dementia

Researchers at the University College London are developing a pilot trial to ensure people with hearing loss and mild cognitive dementia start and continue to use hearing aids. They will follow-up to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the risk of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease / Dementia with Lewy bodies / Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease / Frontotemporal dementia / Posterior cortical atrophy / Primary progressive aphasia / Vascular dementia

Reduced blood flow and nerve cell damage – is inflammation the link?

A PhD student at the University of Edinburgh is looking at how changes in blood flow affect cognitive decline and dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease / Vascular dementia

Protecting blood vessels in dementia

This pioneering project sees Dr Scott Miners, from the University of Bristol, investigate specific changes to blood flow in the brain during Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease / Vascular dementia

Was this information helpful?

Let us know what you think by filling out this short survey.

Complete the survey
infoline-sidebar

Dementia Research Infoline

Want to know more about current research? Keen to get involved in research projects?

Contact the Dementia Research Infoline,

9am-5pm, Monday to Friday

0300 111 5 111

infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org