Symptoms and Treatments for Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a degenerative condition with many similarities to Alzheimer's disease, but it takes hold much more quickly. Dementia develops as nerve cells die or deteriorate, and doctors do not yet know what causes it. There is no cure for LBD, but medication can help moderate some of the symptoms. Lewy body dementia is difficult to identify, but a combination of symptoms can assist doctors in their diagnosis.
Difficulty Concentrating
A significant decline in one's ability to concentrate is a classic Lewy body dementia symptom. Though it is common for older adults to find concentration and focusing more difficult than before, in people with LBD the difference is prominent. In many cases, individuals will find they have no trouble concentrating on a complex assignment but have difficulty focusing on a simple task.
Memory Loss
This classic symptom of many types of dementia is a prominent feature of Lewy body dementia. While it may not be noticeable at first, it will become increasingly more apparent as the disease progresses. Memory loss is another common part of the aging process, but LBD goes beyond a general mental fog or distraction. Some people with Lewy body dementia forget words, long-practiced skills, and family member names.
Confusion
The confusion that is common with LBD is closely related to memory loss. Memories facilitate meaningful interaction with the world, but this becomes increasingly difficult for people with Lewy body dementia. As the individual loses memories of particular places or things, solving simple problems and making decisions can become challenging and confusing. Periods of confusion typically alternate with periods of lucidity, which contributes to frustration and exacerbates confusion.
Changes in Movement
Limb tremors and uncontrollable shaking are common symptoms of Lewy body dementia and can affect how a person moves. This symptom is also common among those with Parkinson's disease, and the two conditions often develop together. Because both conditions share this symptom, it can difficult for doctors to come to the correct diagnosis right away.
Sleep Disruptions
Doctors have identified REM-sleep behavior disorder (RBD) as one of the warning signs of Lewy body dementia. People with LBD often make unusual movements or speak during sleep. This, combined with general confusion, can make it difficult for individuals with the condition to distinguish between what they experience in dreams and in waking life. Researchers note that the majority of people with RBD develop degenerative illnesses in the years following diagnosis. The defect in the brain that produces RBD also plays a role in the development of LBD.
Hallucinations
Most people with Lewy body dementia experience hallucinations, usually during a period of extreme confusion. Visual hallucinations are visions of things or people that are not there. They can also involve loss of direction, lack of depth perception, and detachment from reality in the areas of taste, touch, and sound. Doctors will first rule out other common causes, such as medications or drug use, then consider a diagnosis of LBD.
Rapid Changes in Symptoms
One of the characteristics of Lewy body dementia is a wide variety of symptoms that seem to present at random. Some people experience no symptoms in the initial stages of LBD. When symptoms become evident, they can vary from day to day, or even hourly. Even from one minute to the next, outside observers can notice dramatic changes in the affected individual's demeanor.
Loss of Balance
It is common for Lewy body dementia to cause older adults to lose their balance as they become less able to judge distances and depths. This increases the likelihood of stumbles and falls, which can lead to broken or fractured bones, concussions, and more.
High Sensitivity to Medication
People with Lewy body dementia become acutely sensitive to antipsychotic medications. These drugs can aggravate tremors and other symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. Pharmaceuticals can also cause further deterioration of mental acuity and may bring on additional, more severe, hallucinations. Because LBD is so challenging to diagnose in the first place, finding the right medical treatment for it is difficult.
Depression and Aggression
Similar to Alzheimer's disease, those with Lewy body dementia often become depressed and, sometimes, aggressive. Confusion, interspersed with periods of alertness, can leave them feeling depressed. Medications for depression may provide relief and make it easier to maintain as healthy a mental state as possible.
Risk Factors: Age
One of the main risk factors for lewy body dementia is age. Symptom onset typically begins between [citation href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4782269/" title="
Deutsches Ärzteblatt international" desc="The Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Atypical Parkinsonism"]the ages of 50 and 80, though younger people sometimes develop this condition as well.
Roughly 0.4% of people over the age of 65 have LBD, and it is the second most common form of progressive cognitive decline in old age, after Alzheimer’s disease.
Risk Factors: Parkinson’s Disease
Technically, LBD is an umbrella term referring to two distinct diagnoses—dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia. Parkinson’s disease dementia refers specifically to the cognitive decline that affects people with Parkinson’s disease.
The difference between these two conditions is slight, mostly involving the timing of cognitive and motor symptoms. Because of the close link between them, Parkinson’s is a major risk factor for LBD.
Risk Factors: Family History
Researchers still don't know the full range of risk factors of LBD. Ongoing research seems to suggest that a person’s family history of illnesses may play a role in their risk of LBD. However, this is not always the case.
Current studies suggest that there is a genetic component, and certain genetic mutations have been associated with increased susceptibility to LBD. More research is needed to fully understand the role of genetics in LBD.
Treating Mood and Behavior Changes
As LBD progresses and mental faculties decline, many people experience mood and behavioral changes. These issues do not always require treatment. When treatment is necessary, it often includes medications like antidepressants, though these drugs can worsen memory loss and sleep conditions like rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), which are associated with LBD.
Some experts encourage physical activity, musical therapy, and occupational therapy to manage agitation and other mental changes.
Treating Sleep Issues
Sleep disruptions are common in Lewy body dementia but are often undiagnosed. If a person can visit a sleep specialist and receive treatment, the process begins by assessing medication use.
Some sleep medications carry a higher risk of falls, worse cognition, and excessive daytime sleepiness, though the benefits may outweigh the risks for some people. Treatments for sleep apnea, such as airway pressure devices, are effective in managing RBD.
Treating Motor Symptoms
Many of the medications that treat Parkinson’s disease are less effective in managing the motor symptoms of Lewy body dementia. These same drugs can also worsen neuropsychiatric issues, leading to the development of psychotic symptoms.
If a doctor feels using these drugs is necessary, they will prescribe the lowest possible dose. Since 2018, experts have approved the use of certain anticonvulsants to treat the motor problems of LBD.
Treating Cognitive Symptoms
A significant body of evidence supports the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) to treat the cognitive symptoms associated with Lewy body dementia. These drugs do not actually improve a person’s cognitive state but do slow the deterioration. AChEls can reduce the burden on caregivers and give people with LBD a slightly greater ability to perform daily tasks.
To boost daytime alertness and overall cognitive responses, some doctors will prescribe stimulants.
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