Dementia with Lewy BodiesDementia with Lewy Bodies is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia in the elder population. It is a common dementia subtype that has only been recognized in the past decade and remains widely under-diagnosed. This disease is often referred to as lewy body disease or diffuse lewy body disease and it involves the brain being attacked by a gradual build up of protein deposits (lewy bodies) that develop inside the brain and destroy brain cells. Psychological tests may demonstrate similarities to Alzheimer’s disease, such as, memory loss, perceptuospatial function and language. But, fluctuations in performance from on test to another, is a distinct feature of dementia with lewy bodies, which is not present in Alzheimer’s disease. To be diagnosed with dementia with lewy bodies, dementia symptoms consistent with DLB will develop first, both dementia symptoms and movement symptoms will be present at the same time of diagnosis, or movement symptoms will develop within a year after DLB diagnosis.
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Signs and Symptoms
- Changes in thinking and reasoning
- Confusion and alertness that varies significantly from one time of the day to another or from one day to the next
- Parkinson’s symptoms; hunched posture, balance problems, and rigid muscles
- Visual hallucinations
- Delusions
- Trouble interpreting visual information
- Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep disorder
- Malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system (involuntary movements)
- Memory loss, but less prominent then in Alzheimer’s disease
Treatment Options
There are no treatments that can slow down or stop the brain cell damage caused by dementia with Lewy Bodies.
The treatment of DLB includes cholinergic therapy for cognitive impairment, atypical neuroleptics to alleviate hallucinations, and levodopa/carbidopa to improve parkinsonism.
The current medication strategies include:
Cholinesterase Inhibitors (ChEIs) used to treat thinking changes in Alzheimer’s; evidence shows ChEIs may reduce the accumulation of impact of concurrent amyloid pathology.
Antipsychotics used for behavioral symptoms, but should be used with caution for DLB because they can cause serious side effects including; impaired swallowing, changes in consciousness, and acute confusion.
Antidepressants to treat depression that arises due to dementia development; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used.
Clonazepam prescribed to treat REM sleep disorder
The treatment of DLB includes cholinergic therapy for cognitive impairment, atypical neuroleptics to alleviate hallucinations, and levodopa/carbidopa to improve parkinsonism.
The current medication strategies include:
Cholinesterase Inhibitors (ChEIs) used to treat thinking changes in Alzheimer’s; evidence shows ChEIs may reduce the accumulation of impact of concurrent amyloid pathology.
Antipsychotics used for behavioral symptoms, but should be used with caution for DLB because they can cause serious side effects including; impaired swallowing, changes in consciousness, and acute confusion.
Antidepressants to treat depression that arises due to dementia development; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used.
Clonazepam prescribed to treat REM sleep disorder