Vascular factors in geriatric psychiatry: time to take a serious look

Purpose of review Vascular factors have increasingly been described in association with cognitive decline and depression. This review focuses on the literature, which has explored the possible link between these risk factors and cognitive decline and depression. Recent findings There is considerable, and increasing, evidence that vascular risk factors make patients more at risk of cognitive decline and depression. The mechanism by which this occurs, or whether these factors are truly causal, is unclear. There is still insufficient evidence that the treatment of vascular risk decreases the subsequent risk of cognitive decline and depression. Summary In view of this mounting evidence and the cardiovascular benefits associated with the treatment of vascular risk factors, there is an argument that older patients presenting with the problems of cognitive decline and depression should have vascular risk assessed and treated.