[Vascular cognitive impairment].

Vascular cognitive impairment is considered the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. One of the most significant factors leading to vascular dementia is stroke, which increases the risk of developing dementia by about 2 times. Delayed-onset post-stroke dementia is mainly due to severe small vessel disease, recurrent stroke, or concomitant Alzheimer's disease. Among the many mechanisms involved in the development of vascular cognitive impairment, cerebral small vessel disease is perhaps the most common, contributing to cognitive impairment independent of stroke. An important feature of small vessel disease is its steady progression. The cognitive decline in cerebrovascular disease, including small vessel disease, is also usually gradual and gradual, progresses slowly, and the underlying defect extends to processing speed, complex attention, and fronto-executive functions. Vascular cognitive impairments are quite heterogeneous in nature, while having a negative impact on all major cognitive domains. Patient management should include the earliest possible diagnosis of cognitive impairment and the appointment of timely therapy. One of the drugs that has been successfully used to treat vascular cognitive impairment is nicergoline (Sermion). The clinical efficacy of the drug is achieved due to the improvement of cerebral blood flow, a positive effect on cholinergic neurotransmission and neuroprotective action.