Being Patient's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia vs. Alzheimer's
LBD diagnosis and progression
Treatment options and research
What is Lewy body dementia?
1.4 million Americans live with Lewy body dementia (LBD), making it the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. It is caused by Lewy bodies, which are protein deposits that develop in nerve cells in the brain.
Neuron
Lewy body
As Lewy bodies build up, their deposits affect thinking, memory and movement. It sometimes presents with Parkinson's disease.
Return
Next
LBD vs. Alzheimer's
Unlike Alzheimer's, LBD patients often experience hallucinations early on, which can be a key indicator in distinguishing between the two conditions.
Faster Progression
More Symptoms
Different Causes
Return
Next
Two types of LBD
Parkinson's disease dementia
Physical symptoms (Parkinsonism) tend to happen first.
Tremors
Muscle stiffness
Physical changes happen first, like difficulties with movement.
Shuffling walk
Slow movement
Cognitive changes happen first, or together with physical symptoms.
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Sleep disorders
Difficulty with thinking and reasoning
Poor visual and spatial awareness
Hallucinations
READ MORE
Return
Next
How Is LBD diagnosed?
LBD is diagnosed through verbal examination. Imaging tests can sometimes be used to confirm a diagnosis, but are not required.
Symptoms ofLewy body dementia
Return
Next
Hallmarks of LBD
LBD can be difficult to distinguish from similar diseases. In fact, one in three people living with Lewy body dementia are misdiagnosed at first. Don Kent, who was misdiagnosed six times, shares his first signs, difficulty in getting diagnosed, and his life with LBD.
Patient Perspective
"I was never asked about my sleep until I got to the Mayo clinic, and that’s six neurologists in the end who didn’t ask me about my sleep patterns… After it happened, I learned you can have hallucinations of all your senses and I had this change in my sense of taste, and it really does change."
Don KentRetired lawyer, living with LBD
READ MORE
Return
Next
Is LBD inherited?
Up to 60 percent of the risk of LBD may be genetically determined, although the link is not clear-cut. However, people without those gene mutations can also develop LBD.
Known Risk Genes for LBD
SNCA SNCB GBA APOE4
Accurate genetic tests for LBD are not available yet, but it is an active area of research in diagnostic trials.
Read more
Return
Next
Progression of LBD
Mild symptoms, resembling age-related cognitive changes. Some movement difficulties may arise, but memory remains mostly intact.
Obvious cognitive and movement decline, sleep disorders, behavioral changes, and increased paranoia.
Significant mental and physical decline, speech difficulties, and muscle rigidity. Patients will need full assistance in their daily lives.
Return
Next
Treatments for LBD
Drug treatments:
Cholinesterase inhibitors e.g., Aricept and Levodopa
Side Effects
Non-Drug interventions:
Speech, physical, cognitive therapies, individual & family psychotherapy
Return
Next
Want to keep learning?
beingpatient.com
for the latest news and information on brain health and Alzheimer's disease
Return
Levodopa is typically given to Parkinson’s patients, and may help treat movement problems for LBD.
However, it may cause fatal side effects (especially if misdiagnosed), so patients should talk to a doctor who specializes in LBD before taking any medication.
Did the patient have these symptoms at least three times in the past six months?
- Slowness or frequent pauses in movement
- Rigidity or passive range of motion
- Loss of balance with or without frequent falls
- Tremors in arms, legs or the head, while at rest.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or lethargy when awake
- Illogical thinking or incoherent, random thoughts
- Frequent staring spells or periods of blank looks
- Seeing things not really there
- Acting out dreams in sleep
- Sudden blood pressure drop when getting up
The above list is based on the LBCRS tool that doctors can use to diagnose LBD. Please consult a medical professional for an official evaluation
LBD patients can experience hallucinations and sleep disorders, in addition to physical symptoms such as muscle rigidity, tremors, and balance issues.
LBD is caused by Lewy bodies, while Alzheimer’s is believed to be caused by amyloid plaques, tau tangles, inflammation, or infections.
While both diseases affect memory, LBD has additional symptoms and often progresses more rapidly than Alzheimer’s. This leads to faster decline in cognitive and physical functioning.
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Transcript
Being Patient's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia vs. Alzheimer's
LBD diagnosis and progression
Treatment options and research
What is Lewy body dementia?
1.4 million Americans live with Lewy body dementia (LBD), making it the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. It is caused by Lewy bodies, which are protein deposits that develop in nerve cells in the brain.
Neuron
Lewy body
As Lewy bodies build up, their deposits affect thinking, memory and movement. It sometimes presents with Parkinson's disease.
Return
Next
LBD vs. Alzheimer's
Unlike Alzheimer's, LBD patients often experience hallucinations early on, which can be a key indicator in distinguishing between the two conditions.
Faster Progression
More Symptoms
Different Causes
Return
Next
Two types of LBD
Parkinson's disease dementia
Physical symptoms (Parkinsonism) tend to happen first.
Tremors
Muscle stiffness
Physical changes happen first, like difficulties with movement.
Shuffling walk
Slow movement
Cognitive changes happen first, or together with physical symptoms.
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Sleep disorders
Difficulty with thinking and reasoning
Poor visual and spatial awareness
Hallucinations
READ MORE
Return
Next
How Is LBD diagnosed?
LBD is diagnosed through verbal examination. Imaging tests can sometimes be used to confirm a diagnosis, but are not required.
Symptoms ofLewy body dementia
Return
Next
Hallmarks of LBD
LBD can be difficult to distinguish from similar diseases. In fact, one in three people living with Lewy body dementia are misdiagnosed at first. Don Kent, who was misdiagnosed six times, shares his first signs, difficulty in getting diagnosed, and his life with LBD.
Patient Perspective
"I was never asked about my sleep until I got to the Mayo clinic, and that’s six neurologists in the end who didn’t ask me about my sleep patterns… After it happened, I learned you can have hallucinations of all your senses and I had this change in my sense of taste, and it really does change."
Don KentRetired lawyer, living with LBD
READ MORE
Return
Next
Is LBD inherited?
Up to 60 percent of the risk of LBD may be genetically determined, although the link is not clear-cut. However, people without those gene mutations can also develop LBD.
Known Risk Genes for LBD
SNCA SNCB GBA APOE4
Accurate genetic tests for LBD are not available yet, but it is an active area of research in diagnostic trials.
Read more
Return
Next
Progression of LBD
Mild symptoms, resembling age-related cognitive changes. Some movement difficulties may arise, but memory remains mostly intact.
Obvious cognitive and movement decline, sleep disorders, behavioral changes, and increased paranoia.
Significant mental and physical decline, speech difficulties, and muscle rigidity. Patients will need full assistance in their daily lives.
Return
Next
Treatments for LBD
Drug treatments:
Cholinesterase inhibitors e.g., Aricept and Levodopa
Side Effects
Non-Drug interventions:
Speech, physical, cognitive therapies, individual & family psychotherapy
Return
Next
Want to keep learning?
beingpatient.com
for the latest news and information on brain health and Alzheimer's disease
Return
Levodopa is typically given to Parkinson’s patients, and may help treat movement problems for LBD. However, it may cause fatal side effects (especially if misdiagnosed), so patients should talk to a doctor who specializes in LBD before taking any medication.
Did the patient have these symptoms at least three times in the past six months?
The above list is based on the LBCRS tool that doctors can use to diagnose LBD. Please consult a medical professional for an official evaluation
LBD patients can experience hallucinations and sleep disorders, in addition to physical symptoms such as muscle rigidity, tremors, and balance issues.
LBD is caused by Lewy bodies, while Alzheimer’s is believed to be caused by amyloid plaques, tau tangles, inflammation, or infections.
While both diseases affect memory, LBD has additional symptoms and often progresses more rapidly than Alzheimer’s. This leads to faster decline in cognitive and physical functioning.