Vascular contribution to neurodegeneration is important to recognise across all cognitive syndromes. It is preventable earlier in lifecycle, and interventions are effective even at a later stage although specific pharmacological treatment is still lacking. Underestimating vascular component can complicate development and implementation of new treatments in other disorders.
Helsinki is an internationally acknowledged center of vascular cognitive impairment research, as the base of the Helsinki Stroke Aging Memory (SAM) study lead by late professor Timo Erkinjuntti, and as one the collaborating centers in Leukoaraiosis and Disability (LADIS) study. The Helsinki Small Vessel Disease study continues this research tradition.