VASCULAR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: RISK FACTORS, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Rafał Szarek; Konrad Kulka; Wiktoria Król; Zuzanna Kafara; Donata Kowalczyk; Zuzanna  Lechowska; Agnieszka Kafara; Julia Koronczok-Matusiak; Katarzyna Michta; Bogumiła Strzałkowska; Dominika Jurczak

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5302

Authors

Rafał Szarek 5th Military Hospital with Polyclinic in Cracow, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9118-0769
Konrad Kulka Municipal Hospital in Zabrze, Zabrze, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6397-8777
Wiktoria Król Municipal Hospital in Zabrze, Zabrze, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3349-5395
Zuzanna Kafara 5th Military Hospital with Polyclinic in Cracow, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5983-5611
Donata Kowalczyk 5th Military Hospital with Polyclinic in Cracow, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8965-0689
Zuzanna Lechowska Gabriel Narutowicz Hospital, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0430-3996
Agnieszka Kafara Jagiellonian University Medical College https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7168-5291
Julia Koronczok-Matusiak J. Gromkowski Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8100-8527
Katarzyna Michta Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2937-0257
Bogumiła Strzałkowska Bonifraters Medical Center Ltd., St. John of God Brothers’ Hospital, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4760-3808
Dominika Jurczak Bonifraters Medical Center Ltd., St. John of God Brothers’ Hospital, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6042-5659

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5302

Keywords:

Dementia, Cerebrovascular, Cognition, Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Vascular Dementia

Abstract

Background: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a major contributor to age-associated cognitive decline, both independently and as a contributor to mixed dementia syndromes. Despite many years of research, an approved therapy has not yet been identified.

Methods: We reviewed preventive and therapeutic strategies tested in VCI and meta-analyzed efficacy data for eligible interventions to assess whether previously tested treatments warranted reconsideration.

Results: VCI clinical trials exhibited substantial heterogeneity. Few interventions were reproducibly tested in adequately sized and designed studies. Nonetheless, some interventions showed modest effects on global cognition and functional outcomes.

Conclusion: Early and effective management of cerebrovascular risk factors, particularly beginning in midlife, plays a crucial role in lowering the likelihood of developing neurodegenerative conditions such a vascular cognitive impairment and other related dementias. Ginkgo biloba extracts and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have shown the greatest cognitive and functional benefits, though their clinical significance remains uncertain, and certainty of evidence is overall low.

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