Resumo

• Chronic progressive multifaceted impairment of cognitive function; a form of dementia.
• Loss of brain parenchyma is predominately from cerebrovascular causes such as infarction and small-vessel changes.
• The second most common cause of dementia in older people.
• A large overlap exists with Alzheimer's dementia and many patients have a mixed form of dementia.
• Treatment is of limited benefit; early aggressive treatment of vascular risk factors is suggested.