The high quality scientific programme will open new perspectives on Vascular Dementia. During our meeting in Barcelona we shall have an opportunity to deliberate on large and small vessel brain diseases and how they contribute to cognitive decline. We shall try to identify the specific psychological markers, if any, of vascular dementia, and also the genetic factors involved. The overlap with Alzheimer's disease will be a central issue, as will be the white matter changes frequently seen in vascular dementia.