Lewy body Dementia, or Dementia with Lewy bodies, is the
second most common type of progressive Dementia following Alzheimer’s disease.
The disease is characterized by protein deposits in nerve cells in the brain
regions that control thinking, memory, visual processing, and motor control.
In this article, we’re taking a deep dive into Lewy body
Dementia to explore its origins, symptoms, and treatments and therapies that
can help you or a loved one navigate your Dementia journey.
Fact #1: Lewy body
Dementia is one of the primary causes of Dementia in older adults.
Usually beginning after age 50, Lewy body Dementia affects
more than one million people in the United States. Experts have discovered that
it appears to affect more men than women, making gender one of the primary risk
factors. Other risk factors include advancing age and a family history of Lewy
body Dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
Fact #2: Lewy body
Dementia is named after the scientist Fredrich H. Lewy.
While researching Parkinson's disease in the early 20th
century, the German-born American neurologist Friedrich H. Lewy discovered
abnormal protein deposits on the brain later called Lewy bodies. When these
Lewy body proteins build-up, they can disrupt the brain's normal functioning
and cause problems with how the brain works, affecting memory, movement,
thinking skills, mood, and behaviors.
Fact #3: Lewy body
Dementia is a progressive disease with a range of cognitive and physical
symptoms.
The symptoms of Lewy body Dementia emerge slowly and
gradually worsen with time, making it a progressive disease. In the early
stages, people living with this type of Dementia may experience mild symptoms
that allow them to function relatively normally. As the disease advances,
people may notice changes in alertness and attention or movement and posture,
including confusion, hallucinations, and muscle stiffness. In the later disease
stages, people living with Lewy body Dementia often depend on others for
assistance and care.
- Fluctuating alertness and thinking functions
- Repeated visual hallucinations
- Parkinsonian symptoms
- REM sleep behavior disorder, where people act out dreams while sleeping
Fact #4: Lewy body
Dementia can be hard to diagnose.
There is no single test to diagnose Lewy body Dementia.
Doctors diagnose the disease by ruling out other conditions with similar
symptoms. For instance, Lewy body disease shares similar symptoms with
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, causing experts to speculate that it
might be related.
Lewy body Dementia diagnostic testing may include
neurological and physical exams, mental ability assessments, blood tests, brain
scans, and heart tests. In addition to the test findings, a Lewy body disease
diagnosis requires a progressive decline in thinking abilities and two of the
following:
Fact #5: Currently,
there is no cure for Lewy body Dementia, but treatments and therapies can help
alleviate the symptoms.
Doctors often use medications to help people living with
Lewy body Dementia. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease medications can treat
neurological and physical symptoms, while other medications can offer relief
from sleep and movement problems.
Some people living with Lewy body Dementia find non-drug
approaches helpful, such as modifying the environment to reduce distractions,
receiving soothing responses for reassurance and following daily routines with
simple tasks.
Physical, occupational, speech, and mental health therapies
can also play a role in symptom relief.
Our Ginny Gives grant program provides other healing
therapies that help people connect through art, music, dance, and touch.
Fact #6: There are
many supportive resources available to help people living with Lewy body
Dementia and their families and caretakers.
Our supportive resources provide much-needed information,
local resources, and life-enrichment programs to enhance the lives of
individuals and families affected by Lewy body and other types of Dementia,
including:
- Truthful definitions to expand your vocabulary
- Care education to guide your decisions
- Dementia help resources to further your understanding and learn how to help
- Brain health information from reliable and trustworthy sources
- Relevant and topical streaming program for individuals and caregivers.
- No-fee memorial registration to pay tribute to a life well-lived
To learn more about our programs and offerings that can help people living with Lewy body disease and other types of Dementia, contact us online or call 1-800-DEMENTIA (1-800-336-3684).
Important Notice: Dementia Society of America (DSA) does not provide
medical advice. The contents are for informational purposes only and are not
intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment.
