Lewy Body Dementia has been called the most common disease you’ve never heard of.
According to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Lewy Body Dementia accounts for up to 20% of dementia cases in the US, yet few people (including many medical professionals) are familiar with its symptoms or even existence.
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is a type of dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning, and independent function caused by abnormal deposits that damage brain cells over time. It can be difficult to spot (and is thought to be highly under-diagnosed) because it shares characteristics with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
- Symptoms of LBD may include:
- Impaired thinking and reasoning
- Fluctuating degrees of confusion, attention, and alertness
- Movement disorders, such as slowness, rigid muscles, tremors, hunched posture, difficulty with balance, or a shuffling walk
- Visual hallucinations, delusions, and difficulty understanding visual information
- Acting out dreams, sometimes violently (also known as REM sleep disorder)
- Changes in body function, such as blood pressure control, that may lead to dizziness, falls, and urinary incontinence
- Behavior and mood symptoms, including depression, apathy, anxiety, agitation, or paranoia
- Memory loss
Lewy Body Dementia causes the same underlying biological changes of the brain as Parkinson’s disease. Developing a correct diagnosis between the two typically involves the order in which symptoms begin and time it takes for them to develop.
A person likely has Parkinson’s disease if dementia symptoms occur a year or more after the onset of motor (movement) symptoms. On the other hand, LBD is a more likely diagnosis when dementia is present before, simultaneously with, or within one year of the onset of motor symptoms.
Similarly, certain clues can help determine LBD from Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss is typically significant in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. While the decline of attention and alertness for someone with LBD may appear as memory problems, their memory remains fairly intact. People with LBD experience hallucinations and changes in movement that wouldn’t occur until advanced stages of Alzheimer’s.
It’s easy to see why diagnosing LBD (and all forms of dementia) can be difficult. There is no definitive test to determine a diagnosis, so medical professionals must rely on an individual’s symptoms.
While there is no treatment to stop or slow damage to brain cells caused by Lewy bodies, there are methods to help manage symptoms. Consult your loved one’s primary physician for a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
Providing care for someone with dementia can be rewarding, but also very difficult. Caregivers for individuals with LBD often face increased challenges because the disease affects all aspects of a person-their mood, the way they think, and the way they move.
The Lewy Body Dementia Association has a wealth of resources and support information for family members caring for a loved one with Lewy Body Dementia.
The combination of cognitive, motor and behavioral symptoms can be too overwhelming for a caregiver to handle alone. Individuals with Lewy Body Dementia, and their family caregivers, need resources and assistance from health care professionals and agencies.
Caregivers can benefit from working with a home care company to allow respite for themselves. It is important for caregivers to maintain their own health, and social lives, to allow them to best care for their loved one and avoid caregiver burnout.
Caring for yourself will help you provide your loved one with the greatest possible quality of life.
Seniors Home Care (SHC), a privately owned company operated by a Registered Nurse, has been providing professional and compassionate St. Louis-area elder care since 1987. SHC offers complete personal and household services that allow seniors to maintain their dignity and independence, wherever they call home.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marika_Betker/2211686
