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MID
Introduction
Treatment
Prognosis
Research
References
Organizations |
Multi-infarct
dementia (MID)?
Introduction
- What is
Multi-infarct dementia (MID)?
Multi-infarct dementia (MID), a common cause of
dementia in the elderly, occurs when blood clots block small blood vessels in
the brain and destroy brain tissue. Probable risk factors are high blood
pressure and advanced age. CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy
with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is an inherited form of MID.
This disease can cause stroke, dementia, migraine-like headaches, and
psychiatraic disturbances. Symptoms of MID, which often develop in a stepwise
manner, include confusion, problems with recent memory, wandering or getting
lost in familiar places, loss of bladder or bowel control (incontinence),
emotional problems such as laughing or crying inappropriately, difficulty
following instructions, and problems handling money. Usually the damage is so
slight that the change is noticeable only as a series of small steps. However
over time, as more small vessels are blocked, there is a gradual mental decline.
MID, which typically begins between the ages of 60 and 75, affects men more
often than women.
Is
there any treatment?
Currently there is no treatment for MID that can
reverse the damage that has already occurred. Treatment focuses on prevention of
additional brain damage by controlling high blood pressure.
What
is the prognosis?
Prognosis for patients with MID is generally poor.
Individuals with the disease may improve for short periods of time, then decline
again. However, early treatment and management of blood pressure may prevent
further progression of the disorder.
What research
is being done?
The NINDS supports and conducts a wide range of
research on dementing disorders such as MID and on cerebrovascular disease. The
goals of this research are to improve the diagnosis of these disorders and to
find ways to treat and prevent them.
Selected
references
Bradley, W, et al (eds) Neurology in Clinical Practice: Principles of Diagnosis
and Management vol. II,
Butterworth-Heinemann,
Boston, pp. 1427-1430 (1991) Joynt, R (ed).
Clinical
Neurology vol. 3, Chapter 32, J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, pp. 45-47
(1990)
Mahler,
M, and Cummings, J. Behavioral Neurology of Multi-Infarct Dementia Alzheimer
Disease and Associated Disorders, 5:2; 122-130 (1991)
Rowland,
L (ed). Merritt?s
Textbook of Neurology 8th edition, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, pp. 4-9
(1989)
Wyngaarden,
J, et al (eds).
Cecil Textbook of Medicine 19th edition, W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia,
p. 2090 (1992)
This
information is available courtesy of the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke. It is in the public domain and can be downloaded, reproduced,
or copied without permission. For more information go to
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorder_index.htm
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