Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Dr Pravir Sharma, Consultant Psychiatrist
Lewy body dementia is the third most common type of dementia. Dementia is a brain condition that causes progressive difficulties with how your brain functions. It affects things such as your memory, language, judgement, control of emotions, and thinking deeply. Dementia with Lewy bodies has similarities to Parkinson's disease.
What is dementia with Lewy bodies?
The term dementia refers to a set of symptoms that affect your memory, behaviour, how you think and how you communicate. There are different types of dementia with slightly different symptoms, and they’re caused by different things.
In dementia with Lewy bodies, tiny clumps of protein (Lewy bodies) build up in nerve cells in your brain. Parkinson’s disease is similar as there’s also a build-up of Lewy bodies in the brain, and this can cause problems with movement. So, people with Lewy body dementia may have Parkinson’s disease symptoms as well.
At least 2 in 10 people with dementia have the Lewy body type. It’s more common with age.
Causes of dementia with Lewy bodies
In Lewy body dementia, clumps of protein (Lewy bodies) similar to those found in Parkinson’s disease build up in nerve cells in your brain. We don’t know exactly how, but they stop the nerve cells in your brain from working properly.
For most people, the cause of this is unknown. It may be because of genetics as some people have a family history of the condition, but most don’t.
Symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies
Like other types of dementia, Lewy body dementia generally develops gradually and gets worse over time. How quickly this happens can vary.
Lewy body dementia symptoms tend to fluctuate over time and can vary between different people.
Some Lewy body dementia symptoms are similar to other types of dementia, including confusion and later, memory loss. Other symptoms are more specific. Lewy body dementia symptoms include the following.
- Sudden confusion, or ‘switching off’. People may be silent and unresponsive for several minutes at a time, or very sleepy. This can change quickly throughout the day.
- Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations). This affects up to 8 out of 10 people with dementia with Lewy bodies.
- Restless, disturbed sleep, with vivid dreams. They may call out or act out their dreams in their sleep.
- Movement difficulties similar to Parkinson’s disease. These include a shuffling walk, limited facial movement, and trembling. They can affect speech, swallowing and increase the risk of falls and serious injury.
People with dementia with Lewy bodies find it increasingly difficult to manage day-to-day life. They’ll need help with basic tasks, such as washing and dressing. Many people eventually need to be looked after full time.
Diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies
Diagnosing dementia takes time. Dementia with Lewy bodies can be mistaken for other types of dementia, and other conditions. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis, as this will change the treatment.
If someone has possible dementia symptoms, their GP will want to talk to them, and someone who knows them well. They’ll ask about symptoms and how they affect day-to-day life. A physical examination and blood and pee (urine) samples can help to rule out other conditions. The GP will test for signs of dementia by asking the person questions and to complete some activities.
If the GP suspects dementia, they’ll refer the person to a specialist. The specialist may recommend brain scans to help confirm the diagnosis. These include MRI and CT scans, and a specialised brain scan called a SPECT scan, which can help identify Lewy body dementia.
Specialist dementia care homes
As a leading provider of dementia care, our care homes provide the very best support for our residents living with dementia. With 24 hour care, we get to know each resident and we tailor our care to meet their individual needs.
If you’re thinking about care, our customer care team can guide you every step of the way. Call 0370 218 5192^ and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Treatment for dementia with Lewy bodies
There isn’t a cure for Lewy body dementia, or any way to slow it down. There are medicines that can help with symptoms as part of Lewy body dementia treatment. Other therapies can support the person with dementia and their carers.
Medicines
Medicines to help with different symptoms may include the following.
- Medicines to improve thinking, attention and alertness. These include medicines called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors – most commonly rivastigmine (Exelon).
- Short-term medicines for sleep problems, including melatonin and clonazepam.
- Medicines for movement problems, such as levodopa. This is used in Parkinson’s disease. It doesn’t always help and can make other symptoms worse. So your doctor will monitor you very closely if they suggest you try it.
- Antidepressants for anxiety and depression if you have symptoms of depression in addition to dementia.
If you’re caring for someone with dementia, it can be hard to remember what medicines they need to take, and when. It may help to download our medicines planner for dementia carers (PDF, 0.08MB).
Supportive care for dementia with Lewy bodies
There are ways to improve life for people with dementia that don’t involve taking medicines. Keeping active and seeing people helps with general mental wellbeing. The person’s doctor may recommend talking therapies and other activities to improve wellbeing. This can also help maintain independence. The doctor may recommend physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help prevent falls and make sure the home is as safe as possible.
The healthcare team should advise on practical support that may help with the day-to-day difficulties of living with dementia. They’ll offer carers advice and information on how to support the person with dementia – and how to look after themselves. This might include support groups, counselling and respite care.
Outlook for dementia with Lewy bodies
It is upsetting, but knowing what to expect can help with planning ahead. Someone with Lewy body dementia is likely to need a lot of care as the condition progresses. They may eventually need residential care.
How long someone may live varies and is difficult to predict. On average, people live between five and eight years after diagnosis.
There can be a range of symptoms, including sudden changes in attention and alertness, hallucinations and difficulties with movement.
See our symptoms of dementia with lewy bodies section for more information.
Dementia describes a range of symptoms that affect the brain, including memory loss and confusion. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a particular type, caused by the build-up of protein deposits in the brain.
See our about dementia with lewy bodies section for more information.
Like other types of dementia, Lewy body dementia develops gradually and gets worse over time. How quickly this happens can vary. People may start to have more memory and behaviour problems and find it harder to manage day-to-day activities.
You can find out more in our symptoms of dementia with lewy bodies section.
Lewy body dementia is more common in older people; the older you are, the more likely you are to get it. Most people with Lewy body dementia are over 65. But it can also affect people younger than this.
Dementia
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- Rachael Mayfield-Blake, Freelance Health Editor
