What is Lewy body dementia?
General information only. This article explains the basics and is not medical advice. For anything about your own health, talk to a doctor or other qualified professional.
Quick answer
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a type of progressive dementia caused by abnormal clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein, known as Lewy bodies, building up in brain cells. It often causes changing alertness, visual hallucinations and Parkinson-like movement problems.
Lewy bodies are named after Friedrich Lewy, the German neurologist who first described them in the early 1900s. LBD is one of the most common causes of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s often misdiagnosed at first.
Two related conditions
| Name | What usually comes first |
|---|---|
| Dementia with Lewy bodies | Thinking and memory problems, with movement problems later or at the same time |
| Parkinson’s disease dementia | Movement problems of Parkinson’s, with dementia developing years later |
Distinctive signs
- Fluctuating attention and alertness: good days and bad days, or long periods of staring or drowsiness
- Visual hallucinations: often detailed and realistic, such as seeing people or animals
- Parkinson-like movement: stiffness, slowness, shuffling walk, tremor
- REM sleep behavior disorder: acting out dreams by talking, shouting or moving, sometimes years before other signs
- Problems with planning, judgment and spatial awareness, sometimes more than memory early on
How it differs from Alzheimer’s
In early Alzheimer’s, memory loss is usually the main sign. In Lewy body dementia, memory may be less affected at first, while hallucinations, fluctuating alertness and movement problems are more prominent. People with LBD can also be very sensitive to certain medicines, which is one reason an accurate diagnosis matters.
Support
There’s no cure, but care and treatment overseen by specialists can help manage symptoms. Support for family caregivers is especially important. If you notice these signs in someone, encourage them to see a doctor, and look to national dementia charities and health services for guidance. Another condition affecting the nervous system is multiple sclerosis.
Sources
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