Lewy Body Dementia is one of the most common forms of dementia. This condition causes protein deposits, also known as Lewy bodies, to develop in nerve cells inside the brain. When these protein deposits build up, they create problems with thinking, memory, and movement or motor control.
This condition causes a progressive decline in mental ability, and people with Lewy body dementia might experience vivid hallucinations and changes in alertness and attention. Problems with motor control are quite common in this form of dementia as well.
The most common symptoms of Lewy body dementia are:
Lewy body dementia is caused by masses of abnormal proteins that have built up in the cells inside the brain. This is the same protein that is associated with Parkinson’s Disease. People with Lewy body dementia will usually also display the plaques and tangles within the brain that are common to Alzheimer’s disease.
The risk factors for Lewy body dementia are:
Diagnosis of this condition is made based primarily on the description of the symptoms. If the patient has fluctuating alertness and thinking function, visual hallucinations, Parkinson’s symptoms, and REM sleep issues, most doctors will feel fairly confident in an initial diagnosis of Lew body dementia. No single test will give a definitive diagnosis for this condition, but tests to look at blood pressure, diabetic complications, and overall health and well-being can be done.
Parkinson’s symptoms are tested for through the use of physical tests related to muscle tone, strength, and balance. MRI and brain scans can be done to look for signs of stroke as well. Mental and cognitive assessments are typically also done to check on the degree of mental impairment that the patient is experiencing. In some cases, a sleep study is used to verify that sleep problems are part of the cluster of symptoms.
You cannot prevent Lewy body dementia. You can make sure that you take good care of your health, do not smoke or drink to excess and keep your blood pressure and your cholesterol at healthy levels. There is no cure for Lewy body dementia, but there are some helpful treatments that patients can pursue:
Patients with Lewy body dementia are advised not to take sedatives or sleeping aids that are available over the counter. They should also avoid OTC pain medications like Advil PM or Aleve PM. These medications can interact negatively with other treatment protocols for this disease.
Many patients require that they have a caregiver who lives with them after they have been diagnosed. There might need to be changes to the living space to prevent accidents and daily routines can make a big impact on the comfort of these patients as well.