Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2025
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A Mouse Model for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Based on Needle-guided Asymmetric Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: November 22, 2024
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Dural arteriovenous fistula causing reversible cognitive impairment
Anna Alexandratou1, Yee Mah2,3, Deborah Ramsey2
1Department of Neurosciences, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK a.alexandratou@nhs.net.
Practical Neurology
|August 18, 2022
Summary
A rare brain vascular malformation, cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula, can mimic dementia. Early diagnosis and treatment led to significant cognitive and functional recovery in an elderly patient.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Cerebral dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are abnormal connections between dura mater arteries and veins.
- While often asymptomatic, dAVFs can present with neurological deficits, including cognitive decline.
Observation:
- An 82-year-old woman experienced a 5-month decline in cognition, orientation, language, and executive function, mimicking rapidly progressive dementia.
- Cerebral imaging revealed a dAVF as the underlying cause of her symptoms.
Findings:
- Successful embolization of the cerebral dAVF was performed.
- Following treatment, the patient demonstrated dramatic improvement in cognitive abilities and independence.
Implications:
- Cerebral dAVFs, though uncommon, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dementia, particularly in cases of rapid decline.
- Early identification and endovascular treatment of dAVFs can lead to complete reversal of dementia-like symptoms and functional recovery.
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