Tools for Caregivers

Lewy body dementia:

Lewy bodies in the cerebral cortex cause dementia symptoms to appear, along with physical, perceptual and behavioral problems. Unlike Alzheimer's mostly cognitive symptoms, LBD's symptoms affect many parts of the body.

LBD is an umbrella term for two very similar types of dementia: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)and Parkinson's disease with dementia (PD).

Living with Lewy Body Dementia, A personal example, with Dr. Fereman and Dr Dickson of Mayo Clinic. (describes early signs, present situation, diagnosis and research.)

Lewy Body Dementia: Mysteries Unveiled, by the LBDA. A good overview.

Dementia with Lewy bodies:

About half the time, the Lewy bodies start in the cerebral cortex.

Symptoms: Symptoms will be unique to each person. No two persons will have the same symptoms and no person will have all symptoms.

• Those common to all dementias, with the cognitive and behavioral symptoms appearing before any motor symptoms.
• Those common to all Lewy body disorders
• Memory loss, involving the ability to remember how to do tasks. For example, a person with DLB may be able to name a toothbrush but not remember how to use it.
• Loss of executive functions: thinking, planning, judgment.
• Early BPSD
• Delusions, depression, anxiety
• Hallucinations, usually visual, believed to be real
• REM sleep behavior disorder (active dreams)
• Behaviors resulting from these Lewy body related symptoms

Lewy Body Dementia: Most Common Disorder You’ve Never Heard Of, by Dr. Boeve of the Mayo Clinic.