Abstract: ObjectiveTo detect the neuropsychological performances of vascular dementia(VD) and the varied patterns when the severity of VD progressed. Methods39 patients who fulfilled with National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/the Alzheimer's Diseases and Related Disorders Association(NINDS AIREN) criteria for "probable vascular dementia"were assessed with the neuropsychological scales, including Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS), Clinical Memory Scale, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised China (WAIS-RC) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), to measure the change of orientation to time and place, memory, language, visuospatial skills, cognitive function, personality characteristics, the activities of social and daily living and self maintenance. Patients were divided into mild, moderate and severe categories according CDR scores.ResultsAmong mild, moderate and severe categories, significant differences (P<0.05) were detected in the following subtests: orientation to time of MMSE, digit span, block design, object assembly, arithmetic of WAIS-RC, memory quotient, the activities of social and daily living and self maintenance of BDS. In moderate/severe and mild/severe categories, significant differences (P<0.05) were detected in the MMSE language subtest, WAIS-RC comprehension subtest and verbal intelligence quotient. Significant differences were detected in MMSE orientation to time subtest and WAIS RC similarities subtest only between mild/severe categories (P<0.05). In the MMSE immediate or delayed recall, drawing, simple calculation subtests, and BDS personality subtest, no significant differences were detected among mild, moderate and severe categories (P>0.05). Conclusions Patients with mild VD showed general deterioration of orientation, memory, language, visuospatial skills, cognitive function, personality characteristics, the activities of social and daily living and self maintenance. However, the speed of deterioration of each item was different when the severity of VD progressed. No close correlation was observed between personality characteristics alteration and the severity of VD. From mild to moderate and moderate to severe VD, the speed of deterioration of part of the cognitive function, especially the knowledge ever acquired, was slow relatively. The other aspects continued deteriorating in all stages of VD.

Key words: dementia, vascular, neuropsychology