Vascular dementia (VD) is a significant public health problem, especially given the aging of the world population.
Based on publications from the PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases up to February 2024, a descriptive review of the current literature on VD was performed. The concept of what qualifies as VD has changed significantly since the first mention of dementia after apoplexy in ancient literature. Modern understanding points to a multifactorial cause of cognitive decline in old age, in which vascular components such as atherosclerosis, infarctions and amyloid angiopathy play an important role along with other markers of neurodegeneration. New diagnostic approaches, advanced neuroimaging methods play a key role in identifying and differentiating vascular disorders from other types of dementia. This allows for a more accurate assessment of the extent and location of vascular lesions, which is very important for correct diagnosis and treatment planning. Integration of data from various studies and clinical practice helps in developing unified and effective treatment strategies for this complex disease. In general, progress in understanding the pathophysiology of VD and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches open up new opportunities to improve patient care and reduce the overall burden of dementia in society.

Keywords: vascular cognitive decline, vascular dementia, treatment