What is Lewy Body Dementia?

Lewy Body Dementia is one of the most common, yet most misunderstood forms of dementia. Learn more about the symptoms and current care options for seniors who have it

Dementia refers to a large group of memory-related illnesses. When we think of dementia, we may think of well-known diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease or vascular dementia.

However, one form that's important to remember is Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), or Lewy Body Dementia. DLB is the second most common form of dementia, affecting more than 1.4 million Americans. However, because there's so much overlap between DLB symptoms and other forms of dementia, it's rarely discussed, making it harder to manage. If your loved one has been diagnosed with DLB, it's important to understand the symptoms, how to manage the disease and your options for care.

What Causes Lewy Body Dementia?

Lewy Body Dementia gets its name from the smooth, round clumps of protein—called Lewy bodies—that form in the nerve cells in the affected parts of the brain, which is how the disease starts. Lewy bodies also occur in other brain-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and even Down syndrome. However, in DLB, these protein forms affect the body and mind in different ways than other diseases.

What Makes Lewy Body Dementia Different from Other Forms of Dementia?

There are a number of overlapping symptoms between DLB and other forms of dementia, including:

Short and long-term memory loss
Confusion
Agitation

However, DLB is a multi-system disease, so it affects many aspects of the person affected, including cognition, movement and emotions. Additional symptoms of DLB include:

Visual hallucinations
Shakiness and tremors
Limb stiffness
Issues with balance
Fluctuation in cognitive issues
Inattention
Decrease in problem-solving and organizational skills
Lack of judgment
Problems sleeping, including vivid dreaming, excessive movement while asleep and talking in one's sleep

Lewy Body Dementia is actually very similar to Parkinson's disease as the diagnosis, symptoms and prognosis can overlap. Like Parkinson's, there currently isn’t a way to prevent or cure DLB as it escalates and it will eventually be terminal.

However, it's important to remember the differences between these two forms of dementia, including:

While patients with DLB develop parkinsonism, they're usually not as severe as those who have Parkinson's
Patients with DLB experience more neuropsychiatric symptoms
Unlike Parkinson's, DLB is usually not genetic

What Are My Options for Symptom Management?

Lewy Body Dementia is difficult to manage because it currently has no cure. In addition, because DLB is so similar to other forms of dementia, it can be difficult to diagnose and manage.

Early diagnosis and symptom management is essential in helping your loved one maintain good quality of life. A medical professional may choose symptom management techniques that are more commonly associated with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's because of the overlap between the diseases. Symptom management will be useful, especially as the disease progresses. It may be hard to watch your loved one's motor skills and cognitive health deteriorate as their condition progresses, but it's important to monitor them and provide care as much as possible. Your loved one is just as worried and frustrated about DLB as you are, so supporting your loved one is essential to their overall well-being.

Here are some more tips on symptom management for seniors with Lewy Body Dementia:

Keep an open dialog with your loved one's medical team so they can provide guidance on helping your loved one
Keep track of changes in symptoms, no matter how small, as even small changes can lead to bigger issues
Monitor the medications your loved one takes and make sure they're properly balanced. Some seniors with advanced dementia can have adverse reactions to certain medications
Make sure their surroundings are safe in order to prevent falls and fall-related injuries

In addition, it may be necessary to consider professional memory care from a home care agency like Visiting Angels Dallas. This can provide your loved one with personalized and comprehensive care in comfortable and familiar surroundings.

How Can Memory Care at Home Help My Loved One?

As your loved one's condition progresses, they will eventually need around-the-clock care to help them manage symptoms. Although you might've played a role as a family caregiver, you may not be prepared to offer the advanced level of care your loved one now requires.

At Visiting Angels Dallas, our caregivers are trained to provide quality memory care for seniors affected by Lewy Body Dementia. In addition to assisting with everyday tasks—such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, bathing and grooming and mobility assistance—we can also help your loved one manage their symptoms through medication reminders, wandering prevention, feeding assistance and so much more.

In addition, our caregivers are available nights, weekends, holidays and even 24-hour home care, so we'll be here when your loved one needs us most.

Contact our Dallas, TX office to learn more about our home care services for seniors with Lewy Body Dementia and other topics related to DLB. We can answer any questions you may have and schedule a free in-home consultation with you and your loved one so we can begin creating a plan of care.

References:

"Dementia with Lewy Bodies", National Center on Caregiving Family Caregiver Alliance

"10 Things You Should Know About Lewy Body Dementia", Lewy Body Dementia Association

"Types of Dementia", Alzheimer's Association

"Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia: What's the Difference?", ParkinsonsDisease.net