My wife has been suffering from some memory loss and difficulties with organization, navigation, and problem solving. A recent MRI report states "The diffusion-weighted sequence ins negative. The Ventricles are normal in size with no mass effect or midline shift. The FLAIR and T2 sequences demonstrate small multifocal hyperintensities scattered in the deep white matter regions and a larger focus of hyperintensity approximately 1.8 cm i size in the left paraventricular region at the mid to posterior frontal lobe. These all are confined to minor white matter zones and considering the patient's age (68) and overall appearance are most suggestive of changes related to underlying small vessel disease. The individual age of these is not determined but the diffusion sequence indicates no acute ischemic infarct event....There is no evidence for hemorrhage."
We will have our first visit with a neurologist on April 20th. My research into the above suggests early stage vascular dementia. Most of the material I could find on vascular dementia related to stroke induced dementia. I am interested in being in communication with people who have experience with non-stroke vascular dementia and locating neurologists who specialize in this form of dementia.
I think the bigger picture here is the clinical one, i.e., what does this mean for day to day functioning, and, what is the future going to look like. Those are questions for the neurologist who specializes in dementia. Speak to her/him both with your wife present and privately. See if there is a social worker or Nurse practioner you can be in touch with on a regular basis as changes occur. You want followup at least once a year to see if there is progression.