Lewy Body Dementia: Understanding the Signs and Treatment Options

Lewy Body Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that can be difficult to diagnose because it has symptoms, such as movement issues and memory loss, that are similar to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, and Lewy Body Dementia is the second most common. That’s what CNN founder Ted Turner suffered from before he recently died in Florida. Comedian Robin Williams, who died in 2014, also had Lewy Body Dementia, more formally known as Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

The main distinction between LBD and Alzheimer’s is that Lewy Body Dementia has Parkinson-like features, including:

• Slowness
• Loss of dexterity
• Difficulty walking
• Visual hallucinations

Early Signs and Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) may be an early symptom, but not every person who has RBD will develop Parkinson’s disease or LBD. When a typical person dreams, their body and limbs are limp. If you have RBD, your body and limbs are active during sleep, and you act out your dreams. You may kick or swing your arms or legs if you’re dreaming that someone is chasing you or fighting with you. Your partner may notice this sign first, especially if they share the same bed. RBD is common among people who have Parkinson’s and LBD, and can occur many years before the symptoms of Parkinson’s or Lewy Body Dementia appear.

Cognitive Changes vs. Normal Aging

Cognitive decline is another early sign. Any aging person may have some cognitive decline, such as difficulty remembering certain words or walking into a room and forgetting why – but they likely remember within minutes. With Lewy Body Dementia, you may have ongoing difficulty remembering or managing your daily routine. This could show up in many ways, including:

• Forgetting to take medications
• Forgetting why you are on certain medications
• Suddenly finding the phone or remote overly complicated

You may also have trouble with visual spatial skills. For example, you might have trouble staying in the middle of the lane when driving.

This disease also has Parkinson’s features, which can show up in several ways, including:

• A slower gait when walking
• Difficulties cutting food or buttoning clothes
• Smaller or more labored handwriting

Visual hallucinations also tend to be among the first symptoms. Early on, you might recognize on your own that these hallucinations are not real. Or if a loved one says the hallucinations are not real, you might accept that. As the disease progresses, it will likely be more challenging for you to distinguish real from imagined. This poses a physical danger as you may jump up suddenly or make other quick movements, putting you at risk of falls. Due to the physical risks, it’s important to address hallucinations before they become more established and severe.

How To Ease Lewy Body Dementia Symptoms

Lewy Body Dementia has no cure, but medication can ease symptoms. Cholinesterase inhibitors increase levels of a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which can help with better attention, memory, alertness and visual processing.

Separately, different medication might be needed to block hallucinations, if those are occurring.

If you are experiencing Parkinson’s-like tremors, a medicine that increases dopamine levels might be prescribed. These are the same medicines used to treat people with Parkinson’s Disease. The complication is that these medicines can make hallucinations worse for patients who have Lewy Body Dementia and should be avoided.

Physical Therapy Can Help

If you have Lewy Body Dementia, you will likely benefit from therapy. Physical and occupational therapy help maintain the motor skills necessary for balance. Speech therapy also helps and keeps swallowing muscles strong to prevent choking.

If possible, in-home care is a great option, especially if you are having difficulty walking. Assisted living might need to be considered during the later stages of the diagnosis, especially if hallucinations are worsening. It’s important to talk with your loved one’s neurology team about the disease’s progression. It might also help to talk with a caregiver support group so that you have help recognizing when you may need assistance in caring for your loved one.

This content is not AI generated.