note from previous post: Dementia is not a disease in itself. This is a collection of symptoms from many potential diseases. The field of gerontology deals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD for short). Well, it’s time to look at related dementias. What relatives are they?
Lewy bodies dementia (LBD) is the second most common neurodegenerative cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. But this is the most common reason for not receiving enough attention.
You may have heard of Lewy body dementia since actor and comedian Robin Williams was diagnosed with the disease. He received excellent medical care; saw specialists and passed the latest tests. Before his death, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and depressionhowever, an autopsy revealed that he had Lewy body dementia all along, a diagnosis many doctors had missed. It just wasn’t on their radar.
Symptoms that LBD shares with other dementias
LBD may begin with motor decline similar to Parkinson’s disease; cognitive decline and other symptoms appear later. Or it may begin with cognitive changes, followed by motor symptoms. In other words, it shares symptoms with other dementias in its earliest stages.
People with LBD show emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms common in dementia:
- Difficulty thinking and paying attention.
- Getting lost and not knowing where you are
- Apathy and problems motivating themselves to engage in activities
- Agitation
- Anxietydepression and mood swings
They also share the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:
- Difficulty walking
- Tremors
- Stiffness, including less facial expression feeling
- Incontinence or problems going to the toilet on time
- Blood pressure control or temperature changes
Symptoms that distinguish LBD from other forms of dementia
Some symptoms are more common in LBD than in other forms of dementia:
- Hallucinations and seeing things that are not there
- Deceptions and believing things that are not true
A man with LBD thought his garage was full of rats and the rats started running towards them. Another deeply believed that her spouse was having an affair, even though her spouse was a loving caregiving partner.
Hallucinations do not always scare the person experiencing LBD. They can see animals as friendly. Hallucinations are often more distressing to family members who care for them.
Patterns in everyday life can also be especially problematic with LBDs:
- Sleep disturbance. While other dementias can include “sundowning” and evening awakenings, LBD involves disturbances while the person is asleep. Good sleep includes a phase characterized by rapid eye movement, although the eyes are still closed (the REM phase). Healthy people dream in the REM phase, but are temporarily paralyzed and immobile. People with LBD can sometimes move during REM sleep. dreamsfor example, grabbing a partner or falling out of bed.
- Variability to know. One of the most challenging features of LBD involves the transition between lucidity (normal functioning) and symptoms such as cognitive difficulties. People living with other dementias have good and bad days, but people with Lewy body dementia can have good and bad hours. This makes planning events and social gatherings difficult because things can change at a moment’s notice.
Technical information about Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and the Brain
OK, now for some technical information: Lewy body dementia includes two types of dementia: Dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia. Most cases of dementia are actually Alzheimer’s disease, but estimates show that at least Lewy body dementia is reflected in 15% of cases. This is 1 in 7 cases. Not trivial.
As I explained earliersymptoms of dementia are caused by abnormal combinations of misfolded proteins. In Alzheimer’s disease, a single misfolded protein, amyloid-beta, forms plaques. Another protein, tau, creates tangles in the brain. LBD involves abnormal clumps of alpha-synuclein that accumulate as Lewy bodies in the brain and, interestingly, in other organs throughout the body.
To confuse matters, there are many Individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease have other forms of dementia. Autopsies of people with Alzheimer’s disease show that they often have Lewy bodies, or vascular dementia, in their brains. In other words, several things can go wrong in the brain.
This is important because the most effective medical care can vary depending on the type of dementia.
LBD and the health care system
The challenges of treating any dementia are real. And it’s also true that the LBD gets very little attention.
There are specific resources for the LBD. Lewy Body Dementia Association rich in information. You can call and leave a message; Our support team will get back to you. Online and in-person support groups Also available for people experiencing LBD and their loved ones.
As with all diseases, it is important to use health care. LBD responds well to certain medications and lifestyle changes. Sometimes medications prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease, such as antipsychotic drugs, can be dangerous for people with LBD. The two forms of dementia affect the brain differently. Therefore, the correct diagnosis is especially important.
As mentioned above, many doctors are not familiar with LBD or ignore how the symptoms overlap. Thus, it may be necessary to visit different medical professionals to get the correct diagnosis.
We have a long way to go in understanding and treating LBD, but as with any dementia, getting the right diagnosis and taking advantage of available support and healthcare are key to overcoming it.
Notes: A blog post is an opportunity to explore a topic. This is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor for medical advice. They know which medical records are best suited to your individual needs.
