From the Research
Cerebellar Strokes and Vascular Dementia
- Cerebellar strokes are not typically directly associated with vascular dementia, as vascular dementia is more commonly linked to cerebral infarcts and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy 1, 2.
- However, there is evidence to suggest that cerebellar dysfunction may play a role in vascular dementia, as the cerebellum is implicated in processes associated with cognition, behavior, and psychiatric illness 3.
- The cerebellum is reciprocally connected to limbic structures and the cerebral cortex, providing a neuroanatomical argument for cerebellar involvement in cognition regulation 3.
- Some studies have found that electrical stimulation of the fastigial nucleus in the cerebellum can improve symptoms of vascular dementia, although the relationship between the cerebellum and vascular dementia is unclear 3.
- Vascular cognitive impairment, which encompasses a range of cognitive deficits from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, can result from cerebrovascular disease, including stroke 4, 5.
- The role of cerebral hypoperfusion and oxidative stress in the development of cognitive impairment and dementia is also an area of ongoing research 5.