VaD
Medical abbreviation · Neurology
| Stands for | Vascular dementia |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
VaD stands for Vascular dementia, a neurology abbreviation.
Cognitive decline caused by reduced blood flow to the brain from strokes, small vessel disease or other vascular damage. It typically affects processing speed, attention and executive function and may progress in a stepwise pattern after new strokes.
Example: Stepwise decline after two lacunar strokes, extensive white matter disease on MRI: VaD.
Usage notes
Vascular dementia is often cited as the second most common dementia after Alzheimer's, and mixed dementia with both processes is very common in older adults. Controlling blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and smoking reduces risk. Also written VD in older literature, though that abbreviation is avoided because of its venereal disease meaning.
Related abbreviations
More neurology abbreviations
- ABCD2 – Age, Blood pressure, Clinical features, Duration, Diabetes
- ACA – Anterior cerebral artery
- AChR – Acetylcholine receptor
- ACom – Anterior communicating artery
- AD – Alzheimer's disease
- ADEM – Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
- AED – Antiepileptic drug
- AIS – Acute ischemic stroke
- ALS – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- AMS – Altered mental status
- ASIA – American Spinal Injury Association
- ASM – Antiseizure medication
See all 131 neurology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.