by Patricia Borman, MD, Director of the Memory Disorders Center at Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience
Lewy body disease includes two types of dementia—Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD).
Parkinson’s starts with an abnormal accumulation of alpha synuclein protein that is found mainly at the tips of neurons in specialized structures called “presynaptic terminals” in different parts of the brain. LBD precedes a Parkinson’s diagnosis, while PDD develops after the changes of Parkinson’s have occurred.
Currently, 1.4 million people in the US are coping with LBD. It’s is the third most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
Currently, 1.4 million people in the US are coping with LBD. It’s is the third most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
Unusual Features
LBD exhibits many unusual features, such as variable levels of awareness and consciousness. Those with LBD display rapid shifts between orientation and confusion, alertness and drowsiness, and being attentive or unfocused. Changes in the processing of visual information are prominent, with visuospatial changes such as struggling with depth perception, location and the interrelationships with objects. There can be mistakes in decoding positional information, such as above or below, inside or outside, and going left or right.
Psychiatric Symptoms
Compared to other types of dementia, those with LBD display a range of psychiatric symptoms that include simple or complex visual hallucinations. A simple visual hallucination might be seeing a kitten in the room. A complex visual hallucination could involve people, actions and purpose. Sometimes hallucinations are pleasant, warm or reassuring, while others are confusing, frightening or even terrifying.
People with LBD can develop delusions (fixed beliefs that do not reflect reality), such as jealousy delusions that a spouse is unfaithful, or persecutory delusions of being threatened or maltreated. These delusions are very real to the person with LBD, and can trigger a huge outpouring of emotions and misunderstandings. Agitation and anxiety can be triggered in those living with LBD, as well as their families and caregivers.
People with LBD can develop delusions (fixed beliefs that do not reflect reality), such as jealousy delusions that a spouse is unfaithful, or persecutory delusions of being threatened or maltreated. These delusions are very real to the person with LBD, and can trigger a huge outpouring of emotions and misunderstandings. Agitation and anxiety can be triggered in those living with LBD, as well as their families and caregivers.
Motor Symptoms
These changes can simultaneously occur with the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as slowness, tremors, and difficulties with posture and balance. There are also many non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as dizziness, fainting and falling due to uncontrolled changes in blood pressure. People with LBD can also have severe difficulties with constipation, excessive drooling and abnormal temperature regulation.
Meds, Research & Clinical Trials
Medications to treat the symptoms of LBD may be less effective than with other types of dementia. Sometimes the medications have a paradoxical effect. Instead of helping to reduce hallucinations, the medications actually make the hallucinations worse. It is important to work closely with your medical team to find the best treatments for you. Your team could include neurologists, geriatrics specialists, psychiatrists and physical therapy experts who will help protect your comfort and safety.
The Clinical Research Center at Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience (HPN) is running new clinical trials for dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and traumatic brain injury. Call our clinical research hotline at 808-564-6141 or email us at [email protected] for more information.”
