What is Lewy body dementia?

2024-04-01

Lewy body dementia is the third most common form of dementia and is characterised by visual hallucinations, marked fluctuations in attention and Parkinson-like movement problems. It is difficult to diagnose because it resembles both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

What Is Lewy Body Dementia?

Lewy body dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein – known as Lewy bodies – in brain cells. These deposits disrupt the brain’s normal function and gradually lead to the loss of nerve cells.

The disease accounts for approximately 10–15% of all dementia cases and most often affects men over 60 [1].

Lewy body dementia is closely related to Parkinson’s disease – both involve Lewy bodies and the symptoms overlap considerably.

Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia

Cognitive symptoms:

  • Cognitive fluctuations – attention and concentration vary dramatically from hour to hour and day to day
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Difficulty with planning and complex tasks

Visual hallucinations: An early and characteristic sign is detailed, realistic visual hallucinations – the person sees animals, people or objects that are not there. This occurs in up to 80% of those diagnosed [1].

Sleep disturbances: Disrupted REM sleep is an early sign – the person physically “acts out” their dreams with shouts, kicks or punches. This can occur many years before diagnosis.

Motor symptoms: Similar to Parkinson’s disease: stiffness, slow movements and tremors. Increased fall risk.

Other symptoms: Depression, anxiety, dizziness on standing and visual disturbances.

Read more about how people die from Lewy body dementia.

Causes and Risk Factors

  • Older age – most commonly affects people over 60
  • Sex – men are affected more often than women
  • Parkinson’s disease – increases the risk of developing Lewy body dementia
  • Genetics – certain gene variants (GBA, SNCA) increase risk but are rare

Diagnosis

Lewy body dementia is challenging to diagnose and requires neurological examination, cognitive testing (MMSE, MoCA) and brain imaging. A definitive diagnosis can currently only be made at autopsy.

Treatment

  • Cholinesterase inhibitors – can improve cognition and hallucinations
  • Parkinson’s medications – help with motor symptoms but can worsen hallucinations
  • Antipsychotics are not recommended – many patients are highly sensitive and can develop severe side effects
  • Melatonin and behavioural therapy for sleep disturbances

Sensorem’s Personal Alarm with GPS Positioning, Medication Reminder and Automatic Fall Detection

Sensorem’s personal alarm is an example of a technical aid specially developed for people with dementia. The alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s location on a map in the Sensorem app. Relatives are automatically called by the alarm (two-way communication) if the user leaves a predetermined geographical area. The alarm also has a medication reminder and can alert automatically in the event of a fall with the built-in fall sensor.

 

 

READ ABOUT HOW SENSOREM’S PERSONAL ALARM CAN HELP PERSONS SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA

References

Read more: What is dementia? – How do people die from Lewy body dementia? – Alzheimer’s disease – Dementia tracker