Vascular dementia, also known as
multi-infarct dementia (
MID) and
vascular cognitive impairment (
VCI), is
dementia caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain, typically a series of minor
strokes, leading to stepwise cognitive decline. The term refers to a syndrome consisting of a complex interaction of cerebrovascular disease and risk factors that lead to changes in the brain structures due to strokes and lesions, and resulting changes in cognition. The temporal relationship between a stroke and cognitive deficits is needed to make the diagnosis.