ABSTRACT
There is likely to be a huge increase in the prevalence of dementia, given the progressive aging of populations in both developed and developing countries. It is estimated that dementia affects 5% of individuals over the age of 65 years, increasing to 25% over 85 and 50% of those over 95 years of age (Tatemichi et al, 1990). In 1990, it was the eighth leading cause of disability and death in the world, and the disease burden from dementia is anticipated to increase 50% by 2020 (Skoog et al, 1996). Although Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in Western countries, vascular dementia (VaD) is more common than AD in Asia and other developing regions and may well be the commonest form of dementia worldwide (Gorelick and Roman, 1993). Despite the varied pathologies causing VaD, it is generally presumed to be the only preventable form of dementia (Hachinski, 1992; Butler et al, 1993).
