[Data on the clinical pathology of vascular dementia]

The exact diagnosis of dementias proved to be very important in the increasing research activity of Alzheimer's dementia. The National Stroke Programme stresses the significance of the study of the other--relatively frequent--form of dementia i.e. the much more intensive research of the vascular dementia. This study involved 287 clinical and pathological cases of vascular dementias. The 195 clinical cases agreed with the probable and possible criteria of vascular dementia. The pathological examinations of 92 cases proved the definite category of diagnosis. Four groups of vascular dementias should be differentiated among the pathologically verified as well as in the clinically selected cases which were considered of practical--prognostic and therapeutic importance. The Hachinski's ischemic scale appeared to be reliable approximately in 90 percent in the differential diagnosis between the vascular and Alzheimer dementias especially in the multi-infarct group. The urgent diagnosis and adequate admission of the demented patients should be the task of the house physicians beside the therapeutical recommendations, mental training and the rehabilitative activity emphasized in the report. Furthermore the postgraduate education of house physician considering the dementias as well as the popular publications on dementias for the patient's relatives should also be necessary associated with good organization and with financial support.