question: DEAR DOCTOR, I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM POOR CIRCULATION IN THE HANDS AND FEET FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. I BELIEVE IT IS CAUSING POOR PERFUSION TO THE BRAIN AND IS MAKING IT HARDER FOR ME TO PROCESS INFORMATION, THINK AND REMEMBER. ONE PROFESSIONAL I SAW SAID IF IT S NOT TREATED IT CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION AND EARLY DEMENTIA . MY FATHER HAS HAD HEART BYPASS SURGERY BECAUSE OF NARROW AND CLOGGED ARTERIES AND IS NOW SUFFERING BADLY WITH MEMORY LOSS AND OTHER SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA. COULD MY BRAIN BECOME DAMAGED WITH THIS PROBLEM TO THE POINT I MAY DEVELOP DEMENTIA? IF SO, WHAT CAN I DO TO TREAT THIS CONDITION. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD AN MRI BECAUSE A CT SCAN SHOWED ENLARGED 1ST AND THIRD VENTRICLES WHICH ARE OUT OF PROPORTION TO THE CORTICAL SULCI. I AM A FORTY YEAR OLD FEMALE AND THIS IS QUITE DISTRESSING FOR ME.