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My 87 yr. old mother is bedridden due to spinal stenosis. While in rehab a few months ago she started to experience cognitive impairment which we are now being told is vascular dementia. As far as we know my mother has not had a stroke. I am wondering if Spinal Stenosis can cause vascular dementia. I am also wondering what to expect in terms of progression. Currently my Mom has some trouble finding words but is most often quite pleasant and very much aware of what is going on around her.

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There are several good articles on this site about spinal stenosis, vascular dementia and Alzheimer's that you can look up using the search site box in the upper right hand corner of this page.

As far as I know Spinal Stenosis does not cause vascular dementia. They are two entirely different diseases, on of the spine and the other of the mind. Vascular dementia does get progressively worse and worse as does Alzheimer's.

Has your mother's health been evaluated by her doctor lately?
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Yes, the simple fact is that they both are types of brain failure. In each case the individual will lose more and more cognitive function over time.
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I have researched this extensively as I feel this is what my mother has. Basically vascular dementia is caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain. The symptoms and progression can be varied depending on the cause ( major stroke, multiple mini strokes or other conditions) and areas of the brain effected. It is the success in treating the underlying disease that determines the rate of decline, but it generally progresses more rapidly than alzheimers. It is said to progress in a "step wise" fashion in that there will often be obvious declines followed by plateaus or even some improvement.
My mom also has suffered from compression fractures of the spine, which are common in osteoporosis. This is separate from her vascular problems, which are the result of a long history of heart disease and stroke.
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People can have what are called mini-strokes or silent strokes which can be, as the terms would imply, virtually unnoticed. Also, lack of blood flow to the brain can cause dementia symptoms. It sounds like your mom is a candidate for the second, if not the first.

To answer your question about whether or not vascular dementia can worsen, the answer is likely yes. Most dementia will worsen over time.

Your mom probably needs more than one specialist since a doctor who is treating her spinal stenosis - likely a rheumatologist - may not be qualified to treat her vascular dementia.

Spinal stenosis can be painful, and people who have dementia can often have trouble expressing pain, so you'll have to stay well tuned in to her need for pain relief.

Please keep checking back with us so we know how you are doing,
Carol
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My mom was tested and confirmed for vascular dementia 4 1/2 yrs ago...and we suspected it before then . Her's has progressed..but slowly. But she has continued to stay somewhat active..physically and mentally. She has bad "spells" then gets a better..but overall has declined slowly but steadily. She also seems to have alzheimers also but that has not been confirmed.
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My mom has vascular dementia, from plaque in the arteries they say. I've been taking care of her 7 years and the progression is almost non existent. Due to a stroke hemmorage of the brain she did slowly over a year stop walking, talking, and has swallowing issues. That was close to 5 years ago and she hasn't changed since. She is 93, happy , and can laugh. I think she may outlive me lol. I have a hoyer and wheelchair and i put her in any room we are in. We also take her on mini vacation weekends. Its so so so difficult but shes my mom . We are in it for the long haul. Doctor said with the great care I give her she can live for many many years but if I put her in a Nursing home she would go straight downhill. I cant do that:0 (
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How do you know "she is very much aware of what's going on around her?" Since she has trouble with words I'll bet she cannot describe how she is feeling. Dementia is progressive no matter what type it is and you can expect a further decline in her condition. Spinal stenosis is just a degradation of bone, which is not neural, although bone is living tissue so it all interconnects. Rather than try to wonder, speculate, question what ifs or whys, just love her for the time she has remaining.
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Yes, it will get worse but as has been said already, it will be in a step-wise fashion. My mum aged 88 began showing signs of vascular dementia about 7 years ago although the two strokes that I attribute this to were some years before - maybe I didn't notice the very early signs. First signs I noticed were speech problems, inability to get words out and general slurring of speech but not all the time. Now we've reached the point where she is permanently confused, thinks characters on the TV are in the room with her, and communicates more through sounds than actual words although sometimes short sentences perfectly pronounced are forthcoming. I have found that certain events trigger a deterioration, for example she went into hospital for the removal of a lump and her blood pressure rose so high that they didn't go through with the procedure but instead gave her a very strong sedative to bring the bp down. I brought her home immediately, and it took a full week before she returned to her normal self but the dementia had really taken a hold during that time. Also, if she has an infection and has to take antibiotics we get a similar deterioration in her mind. I have tried all sorts of 'brain repair' remedies - nothing really works.
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My father was 80 when he was diagnosed with Vascular dementia. He managed to keep his mental function for year and a half before he went into a coma and died. He was living at the nursing home and he had other physical complications with his body that only made his life more complicated. He did manage to have some irrational thoughts mixed in with rational thinking. He would think that his mother and aunt were still alive even though they were deceased a long time ago. He would think that he had a government grant paying when he had the long term care insurance paying for his care. On the other hand he knew who his family was, his sister who came to see him. He could express him self clearly as far as his needs and wants, he maintained a good appetite, he could carry on a good conversation. Many things do stay in tact. Be encouraged and do what you can to keep her stimulated. She probably absorbs more than you think. There is a computer tablet where she can write what she is thinking if she cannot verbally express it.
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When a person has Vascular Dementia and with episodes of seeing and hearing people that are not there is it normal for them to realize later they did not actually see the people. My Mother does this a lot. Will see someone or something that is not there.
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Reverseroles, my Mother is the very same as yours, she just turned 94 on Feb 2nd. We can't take any trips with her though, she wants her bed. She is still in charge but has trouble finding words. She still tells us tales. We just laugh with her and thank GOD for the time we have left. I am the only child. GOD bless all caregivers!
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She's slowly getting worse. But it's really hard to see it. It's sad that she can't understand some things when I talk to her, but at other times she is okay.
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My mom has vascular dementia from a stroke 6-1/2 years ago. She seemed ok for a while, then started the "plateaus". Almost every subsequent illness brought her "normal" down a level. I wouldn't know what "level" she would be considered, but she has visual hallucinations, false memories, and comes up with some very strange stories sometimes.
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My mother was diagnosed with vascular dementia about 8 years ago. Her dementia has absolutely been progressive. She is unable to do much, even pouring a cup of coffee. She had become quite irritable, and even aggressive, but with meds, is more child-like now.
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Yes. I have VaD from CADASIL. I am worsening. I am 55, diagnosed at 47. Micro-bleed strokes and silent strokes create a lesion load, at which a person shows true dementia. Mine has no treatment or cure, is genetic. As was stated by another here, we decline in a step-wise fashion. Stress causes upsurge in blood pressure causes micro blood vessels to break; hence, greater lesion load. but we keep our personalities longer than many other dementias, according to my research. Silent strokes are stull strokes. I have a small possibility of avoiding dementia, but memory loss short-term is a given.
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My dear sweet Dad has had dementia for more than seven years. We consulted a Naturopath, as we know his arterial disease meant low blood flow to the brain and he is now in his 80's. it started with intermittent short term memory loss and slowly progressed to more extensive short term memory loss, but is not at all like Alzheimer's. He continues to recognize people, can respond correctly- if not initiate conversations - and clearly knows what's going on. He is enjoying his life at home. The only effective treatment, aside form other conditions, we have found is to improve circulation and help support brain function. We have found that with the proper supplements and adequate doses over time (check the lef.org protocols for this, and work with a knowledgeable ND) we have seen significant improvement. He no longer repeats statements, and is engaged as he always would be although, we initiate most conversation and he listens, and responds, but is in his normal frame of mind and clearly thinking. He recognizes us and others, the context of conversations, etc. He has no declined over time where brain function and blood flow has improved. Short term hasn't made great progress, but all of his other cognitive abilities have. This has taken more than four years of continuous supplementation and a program of seeing what helped heal and help his body. Very little medicine. No blood thinners, as he can't take them. We have him on a strong enzymatic blood clot preventative (a natural substance) that has dissolved small clots (much to the doctor's surprise via Ultrasound) and has prevented any new ones in more than seven years. Really amazing. But it takes a commitment to finding quality vitamin and herb therapies (not from your corner drug store) that have worked over time with clinic studies to support the results. This treatment path may not be possible for those on alot of strong Meds, though. Our goal was quality of day to day life, and my Dad was unable to tolerate long term medications. Take it one day, one problem at a time, and do the best you can would be my advice.
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My wife had clotting "mini-strokes" and some occasional not so mini-strokes related to her APS or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Taking coumadin helped decrease the frequency of these events but did not eliminate them entirely and she eventually became more and more disabled, including losing most functional vision and having some dementia.
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Reverseroles, I am so glad you had a doctor who gave you the stark reality of what would happen in a nursing facility and that you are taking loving care of your mother. How I wish I could have brought my father to live in my home, but my husband would not agree. So every day I fought against neglect and abuse in my father's two nursing facilities. When you need reassurance that you are doing the right thing for your mother even though it saps every ounce of your energy, you might find this book helpful: amazon/Before-Door-Closes-Daughters-Alcoholic/dp/1490808949/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423580077&sr=8-1&keywords=Judith+Hall+Simon. (In defense of my husband, whenever I asked for his help with my father while he lived in the nursing facility near us, he never refused. He also filled in for me on days I was sick.)
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Your doctor told you the truth. Finally someone spoke the truth. People will die fast in a nursing home. They dont care about the people there. They just want to collect money from peoples insurance companies. I lost my grandmom in a nursing home at 102 years old, not because she was dying but because they did not care about her. She lasted less than two weeks there while I took care of her for 35 years of my life. People who advocate for nursing homes should either put paper in their mouth or go live in the nursing homes themselves. The government does not really care about what goes on there. If you cannot take care of your loved ones at home then who will? Dont listen to all this crap from people who advertise nursing homes. Only the fools will listen to them. your relatives will surely die there. Everyone is for himself or herself in these places. They are selfish money making businesses. They do not care about people. Just ask any lawyer about them. No one can do much about them. They should close them down and kick out those animals who work in them.
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I never believed that I would have to go through this until it happened. I was hearing from everybody that nursing homes are the best. BS. If you dont want your relatives to be around you much longer that is where you put them because they will kill them literally by ignoring them in less than two weeks.. And they protect each other in the records by writing a lot of self serving statements. I work in the health field myself, but what they did to my parent has changed my entire opinion about the system. There are killers in the system and you better believe it.
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Vascular dementia is usually progressive because the underlying condition of diseased blood vessels continues. Depending on the cause of blood vessel disease e.g. high blood pressure or diabetes type 2, it may be able to be halted or slowed. Most usually, I think, it is the product of of aging and increasing blood pressure or diabetes which damages the blood vessels and the lack of oxygen then damages the brain cells. A regular stroke can be quite dramatic, mini strokes are not but the damage accumulates over time. A healthy lifestyle (no smoking, exercise, healthy diet good BP and cholesterol etc.) will help prevent it from developing and may help slow its progression. It is largely a disease of aging and normal wear and tear on the blood vessels does happen.
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My mom has vascular dementia+aphasia from stroke as of 7/1/13. She is in a nursing home, is content and knows us all. No longer ambulatory secondary to a pulmonary issue brought on by chf. But all in all, doing nicely. Good care.
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I am glad you are satisfied with your mother's care. I wish I had been with my father's care. We all speak from our own experiences. My father was abused and neglected in two nursing facilities, one in Pennsylvania, where he was also overdrugged, and one in Texas, where I visited him at least once a day every day. Because I wanted other caregivers to know what they might face in a nursing facility, I wrote my book Before Door Closes Daughters Alcoholic. I pray it will help many caregivers and the ones they love.
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I love both my mother and father to death. The reasons for speculation are as follows: 1) My family is very new to care taking and after sudden (overnight) loss of function my mother becomes bedridden. 2) After 4 months of rehab my mother weakened and did not regain functioning even after winning a medicare appeal. 3) She came home on a feeding tube and after 6 weeks weakened even more. 4)Prior to 4 months in rehab and ICU my mother showed no signs of dementia that we could see. She and my father, with his one failing kidney, lived and still do live in the house they purchased when they married. 5) In December we took my mother off of her feeding tube and hospice stepped in. She has been thriving ever since and my guess is that she will be soon taken off of hospice. We have taken to calling my mother my father's cop as she is aware enough to inform us of each and every misstep he takes. It is actually funny and we all laugh. On occasion the dementia seems to get worse and then we check for fevers and other issues and at times she has a UTI. My father on the other hand is not doing well, his one and only bad kidney is not getting better and his bad knees and other issues are making the house impossible for him to manage. Three weeks ago my father had a bad car accident, he is ok but the car gone and less than one week ago he had a bad reaction to prescribed meds that almost killed him. We have to get my dad out of his home as he can no longer live here safely. He realizes this and wants out because he is madly in love with my mother and realizes he won't be around for her if he stays here. I am asking the question about my mother and the progressiveness of her disease because she is thriving right now and we are going to move her and my father so that we can relieve my father of all duties except taking care of my mother. We will be moving my folks to my sister's once we finish rehab, installing a lift etc. I will be moving to 5 minutes away and until then will continue staying at my folks' 5-6 nights per week. Since my mother is currently thriving we are concerned that this move may be upsetting to her. If we were to put my folks into some kind of assisted living they would have to go separate and neither we or they want that. Their levels of need are vastly different.

Basically, at times we feel like we are still in shock over the speed in which everything changed and constantly trying to find ways of keeping my folks together and cared for by us rather than an institution..

Thanks again to everyone that responded.
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Is your mother on Medication? A friend of mine last night shared about medication she was given and this made her have these same symptoms.
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My mom takes gabopentin for pain, bp meds, and a thyroid med. It seems to us that the dementia and stenosis came hand in hand. With my mom currently on hospice we are not going to get a lot of info as to whether or not she had a stroke. Her bed bound, wheel chair bound, and need for hoyer lift is a result of the stenosis and we are told that is because her stenosis is so severe and involves three discs and that messages to limbs through the nervous system are just not getting through the spine. I was just wondering if other needed brain transmissions were also getting blocked and possibly causing the dementia which may be mild cognitive impairment at this point. We have only been seeing these "impairments" since Sept. It sounds like it's not possible for stenosis to do this. I suppose I was half hoping it was because we are told that stenosis is not progressive. My mother may get no worse; I suppose I was also hoping that possibly my mother's dementia would not get worse either. Wishful thinking on my part, I know.

That said, we really do need to move my folks and I am really hoping that doing so does not upset my mother too much.
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My mothers vascular dementia started with a major heart attack back in 2006. After her heart attack she had a major stroke and a LOT of mini strokes. The mri found all the evidence needed. I have been caring for her over the last 3 years and the decline at first was slow. But has begun to pick up in the last six months or so due to other medical issues that are now happening. She just turned 82 in January. Her communication skills have declined so much, it's like charades trying to figure out what she's wanting most of the time. Even before this, her memories were of wayyyy back in the past. She had no idea that I was her daughter or even my name. I am sure each individual is different. It's a long road apparently and it's not easy by any means. You just do what you have to do to take the best possible care that you can. I hope that you have the assistance that you need though to have your time as well. Burn out happens rather quickly when you don't have the help you need. So in essence, Yes it does get worse as time goes on.
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Reverseroles, I do not know how to answer your private message. Can you advise? Regardless, thank you for buying (or about to buy) Before the Door Closes: A Daughter's Journey with Her Alcoholic Father. As you see what happened behind the scenes in my father's two nursing facilities, I believe you will be greatly encouraged in continuing to take care of your mother at home, no matter what the emotional and physical costs.
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CADASIL vascular dementia, genetic, I have it, transmutes a certain normal protein into something else (granular osmiophilic material aka GOM) and deposits it like rust on the small blood vessels which then thicken, close or break and bleed. Both ways it is progressive, worsens in middle age. I was diagnosed 8 years ago and am getting worse, of course. Doctors often misdiagnose it as multiple sclerosis, which is malpractice because treatment that is ok for MS worsens CADASIL.
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My aunt is one of the lucky ones, for the nursing home she is in is an excellent one. She is 98 and has been in the nursing home two and a half years. I go there very often. Never have I experienced uncaring staff members. Never is the home smelly. I find the staff and nurses, therapists, etc. to always have pleasant attitudes. I eat with her occasionally. The food is good. Not always excellent, but good, especially the breakfasts. There is a great library there, and an excellent living room area. The staff treat everyone with respect and dignity. Nothing can take the place of home sweet home, but when one can't walk and hearing and eyesight aren;t so good, this is a nursing home I would put family members in, if 24 hour care is needed. Every four months my aunt, myself and directors meet to discuss needs, and since my aunt has an excellent mind, she can speak up if she so desires. She lived 96 years in her own home. I hope I can do the same, but since I am 79 and my husband has Alzheimers, I can see a different trend for us. marymember
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