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Vascular dementia is brain damage, caused by inhibited blood flow to the brain, writes Rachel Wooller, outreach worker with the Alzheimer’s Society. When someone suffers a stroke, the supply of oxygen to the brain is compromised, which can lead to brain damage, and loss of physical and mental ability. A major stroke can cause confusion, an inability to recall recent events, and the loss of language or concentration, depending on which part of the brain has been affected. Stroke-induced brain damage is irreversible, but sometimes the brain can compensate for the injured areas. Speech therapy and rehabilitation treatment can help people to relearn physical and mental skills. Multi-infarct dementia occurs when a series of mini strokes, called transient ischaemic attacks, cause accumulative brain damage. Often TIAs go unnoticed or are experienced as dizzy spells, blackouts or falls. Multi-infarct dementia tends to progress in steps of deterioration, with acute periods of confusion immediately following a TIA, which level off until the next mini stroke. People suffering with multi-infarct dementia may experience mood swings, epilepsy and depression, as associative symptoms of this condition. They may also experience greater levels of frustration and anxiety, possibly connected with a greater awareness of their own condition, than is the case with other dementias. High blood pressure, poor diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol and lack of exercise are all considered to increase the risk of vascular problems, and therefore of vascular dementia. While there is no cure for vascular dementia, a healthier lifestyle, even after a major stroke or TIA, can help to reduce the risk of subsequent strokes and increased confusion.