What is lewy body dementia disease?
Lewy body dementia is a disease of the brains. In the brain cells arise scoops of protein. Doctors call these spheres Lewy bodies.
The disease begins with slight signs of dementia. You have trouble getting somewhere to keep your attention. You can not come in the name of things. People with this disease may also suffer from depression.
Doctors sometimes confuse dementia with Lewy bodies from Alzheimer's. But there are differences:
- People with Lewy body dementia are at the beginning of the disease one day very clearly the other day and very confused. Later, the dementia is getting worse and they are more confused.
- Some people with Lewy body dementia begin to see things that are not there (hallucinations).
- People with Lewy body dementia move slowly and stiffly. They walk shuffling and bent over, like people with Parkinson's. Some patients also suffer from the quiver associated with Parkinson's.
Lewy body dementia is not curable. Medications can sometimes help.
After the onset of the disease life patients typically have six to twelve years.
Treatment of lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia is not curable. Medications can do something about your symptoms. For depression you get antidepressants. For hallucinations and confusion antipsychotics. Unfortunately, many Lewy body patients very sensitive to the side effects of antipsychotics. These drugs are dangerous. This sensitivity to antipsychotics in Alzheimer's is not.
The Parkinsonian symptoms (rigidity, stooped posture, stiff walk, trembling) are often difficult to treat with Lewy Body dementia.