Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia and accounts for about 15 – 25% of cases, after Alzheimer's disease. The disease can impair decision making, reduce planning and organization skills, affect balance, gait, and the ability to walk. These challenges arise when cells in the brain die due to blockages, disease, or bleeding which reduces blood supply and deprives the brain of oxygen. Impairment tends to come in stages that include rapid decline followed by stable phases then even further decline. There is no cure and no remedies to reverse brain damage. Two common types of vascular dementia are subcortical dementia (occurring when small vessels in the brain become stiff and twisted thereby reducing blood supply) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (occurring when amyloid forms plaques which impair brain function). Diagnosis is based on a series of physical and cognitive tests. Known risk factors for vascular dementia include smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, high blood pressure (hypertension) and cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, inactivity, and unhealthy weight and diet. Stroke is also a risk factor that can contribute to symptoms such as muscle weakness in arms and legs, slurred speech, behavioural/emotional changes, memory loss. Controlling high blood pressure, being physically active, maintaining a healthy diet, and consistently taking prescribed medication as directed can all help reduce the risk of developing, delay or slow the progress of vascular dementia.