Definition:
Lewy body dementia shares characteristics with both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. It can also cause
distinctive physical signs typical of Parkinson's rigid muscles, slowed movement and tremors. Lewy body dementia
may also cause hallucinations.
Diagnosis:
Since the Lewy Bodies themselves can only be identified by autopsy, an accurate diagnosis relies heavily on
physician awareness of the defining characteristics of the disease. A brain scan may detect mental deterioration,
but not the actual Lewy Bodies.
Treatment:
Treatment for Lewy Body Disease focuses primarily on symptom management; it's helpful to take as proactive an
approach as possible from the outset. This means working with your physician to control the symptoms and make
lifestyle changes to accommodate the effects of the disease.
Symptoms and Signs:
Mental decline reduced alertness and lowered attention span. Recurrent visual hallucinations, commonly related to
people or animals. These hallucinations occur in 80% of LBD patients, often at night. Few response to
antipsychotic medications known as neuroleptics, which are usually given to people with mental health problems.
In the case of a Lewy Body Disease patient, but, this class of drugs may actually amplify rigidity and confusion,
and can even cause sudden death. Increasing problems holding the tasks of daily living. Repeated falls, Sleep
disturbances, including insomnia and acting out dreams.
Causes:
The cause of Lewy body dementia isn't known. Moreover, Lewy bodies contain a protein associated with Parkinson's.
Furthermore, Lewy bodies often are found in the brains of people who have Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
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