Managing And Treating Binswanger's Disease

Binswanger's disease (BD), also known as subcortical vascular dementia, is a degenerative condition that affects the brain. This disease is progressive and occurs when layers of white matter located in the brain are damaged. The culprit to this damage is atherosclerosis, which is a cardiovascular condition where the arteries thicken and constrict. Binswanger's disease develops when the arteries that provide sustenance to the subcortical areas of the brain are obstructed. As a result, the brain tissues in this area die off, and the patient experiences a series of neurological and mental symptoms. The most common symptom of Binswanger's disease is a decrease in psychomotor skills. Other symptoms include forgetfulness and mood changes.

There is no cure for Binswanger's disease, but there are ways to treat it.

Antidepressant Medication

Antidepressant medication is used to treat the symptoms of Binswanger's disease. Often, individuals suffering from this condition experience mood and personality changes, including developing feelings of depression. Depression, a mental illness, leaves the individual feeling sad or emotionless for a prolonged period. It also causes the individual to lose interest in many activities they once enjoyed. A depressed individual can feel withdrawn, inactive and helpless. Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a special type of antidepressant drugs that are effective in treating depression caused by Binswanger's disease. Popular SSRIs are citalopram and sertraline. Visiting a professional care provider can help to determine which antidepressant medication is right for the patient with Binswanger's disease.

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Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs

Atypical antipsychotic drugs are effective in treating behavioral symptoms tied with dementia. This type of medication treats forgetfulness and slows down the progressive worsening of mental confusion. Prevalent symptoms Binswanger's disease patients experience are forgetfulness and confusion. Individuals with Binswanger's disease also suffer from behavioral changes, like intense feelings of agitation, irritability, and anxiety. Atypical antipsychotic drugs are beneficial in decreasing feelings of agitation because they lower the dopamine level in the brain. In general, high dopamine levels are known to increase agitation and restlessness in an individual. Effective atypical antipsychotic medication used to treats symptoms of Binswanger's disease are clozapine, loxapine, risperidone, and olanzapine.

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