Which symptom is characteristic of both cortical and subcortical presentations in vascular dementia?

Amnesia is a feature that can be observed in both cortical and subcortical presentations of vascular dementia. In cortical dementia, which affects the outer layer of the brain, cognitive functions such as memory and reasoning are significantly impaired due to the damage to the brain's surface. This can lead to more pronounced memory deficits, including amnesia, where individuals may have difficulty recalling information or forming new memories.

In subcortical dementia, which affects the deeper structures of the brain, such as the basal ganglia or thalamus, memory problems can still manifest, though they may be part of a wider array of symptoms that include slowed processing and difficulties with executive functioning. The presence of amnesia in both presentations highlights the overlapping cognitive decline associated with vascular dementia, regardless of whether the damage is primarily cortical or subcortical.

The other symptoms listed, such as visual hallucinations, psychomotor retardation, and personality changes, may be associated with vascular dementia but are not characteristic of both presentations. Visual hallucinations are more commonly linked with certain types of dementia, such as Lewy body dementia, while psychomotor retardation and personality changes may reflect specific pathways of neurological damage or individual variation rather than being universal features of both cortical and sub