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Recognizing the Early Signs of Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) develops gradually, and those with LBD progress through seven distinctive stages. In the first stage, the individual does not experience any cognitive decline and does not have dementia. The second and third stages are marked by mild cognitive decline, but the first signs of dementia are often difficult to detect since the changes are subtle.

Increased Forgetfulness and Inability to Concentrate

Stages two and three (very mild cognitive decline and mild cognitive decline) often begin with a slight increase in forgetfulness and/or decreased ability to concentrate. These symptoms are often overlooked in the earliest stages since folks…

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Articles of Interest

A Form of Dementia That Is Often Misdiagnosed

Frequently misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease or a psychiatric disorder — and its symptoms often overlap with theirs — Lewy body dementia poses a definite diagnostic challenge. Its victims are losing cognitive ground, but they are less prone to the short-term memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s than to problems with executive function:

Four Little Known Facts About Lewy Body Dementia

Although LBD is the second-most common type of progressive dementia, this condition still isn’t well understood and can be difficult to diagnose. Lewy Body Dementia symptoms often share characteristics of other diseases, so it’s important to be aware of what to expect. Here, we share four little-known facts about LBD that may help you or a loved one understand more about this condition.

Knowing the signs of Lewy body dementia may help speed diagnosis

Lewy body dementia reached the public eye in 2014 after reports that Robin Williams died with diffuse Lewy body disease. But, despite the fact that Lewy body dementia is the second most common dementia, it remains frequently unrecognized.

Robin's Wish

An intimate portrait of Robin Williams and his invulnerable spirit, Robin's Wish is the story of what really happened to one of the greatest entertainers of all time - and what his mind was fighting.

The Terrifying Disease Robin Williams Didn’t Even Know He Had

When Robin Williams killed himself in August 2014, depression was considered the culprit. But the beloved film star and comedian was in fact struggling with a demon even more sinister: Lewy body dementia, a little-known and often misdiagnosed disease that manifests as a combination of the worst symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia.

‘I just want to reboot my brain’: How dementia gripped Robin Williams

Robin Williams’ frequent moments of lucidity, he said, illustrate what sets the condition apart from advanced Alzheimer’s, where such flashes are rarer. “I’ve had patients with fairly severe Lewy body dementia that will sit in clinic and make actually nuanced jokes with me,” Leverenz said.

‘Robin’s Wish’ Review: Celebrating a Life, Highlighting a Disease

This documentary on Robin Williams alternates between paying tribute to him and shedding light on Lewy body dementia, which was diagnosed in him after his death.

Resources

Lewy Body Dementia Association

Lewy Body Dementia Association is the only US health organization promoting education, support & research for people affected by LBD.

Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center

We understand how hard it is to be a caregiver of someone with a Lewy Body Dementia diagnosis. You don’t have to do it all on your own. We’re here for you.

Lewy Body Society

We are the only UK charity dedicated solely to Lewy body dementia. Our mission is to raise awareness, fund research & support families affected by #LBD

Living with Lewy Body Dementia and Comorbidities

Guidelines for dealing with people who have dementia.

Alzheimer's Society

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a type of dementia that shares symptoms with both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Natural Institute on Aging

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These deposits, called Lewy bodies, affect chemicals in the brain whose changes, in turn, can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood. Lewy body dementia is one of the most common causes of dementia. Diagnosing LBD can be challenging.