Vascular pharmacotherapy and dementia

The incidence of dementia is increasing dramatically with the ageing population. Increasing evidence indicates that vascular disease is associated with cognitive decline and with the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and type 2 diabetes have attracted attention as potential targets in the prevention of dementia. The present review aims to provide a concise overview of the recent advances linking vascular disease with dementia (with a particular focus on AD) and to examine the evidence for efficacy, where possible, for utilising vascular pharmacotherapy as a treatment option for dementia. © 2010 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.