Lewy Body Disease

Lewy body disease: what you need to know

Are you familiar with Lewy body disease? Also known as Lewy body dementia, this is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, second only to Alzheimer’s disease. Less well-known than Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease (LBD) is a neurocognitive disorder affecting the brain.

Its symptoms are numerous. They affect the cognitive sphere as much as movement, and can even influence mood and behavior. Let’s find out more about Lewy body disease and how it can affect the daily lives of elderly sufferers and their families.

What is Lewy body disease?

Like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia is considered a neurodegenerative disease. In other words, it is a condition affecting various parts of the brain, leading to both cognitive and physical problems.

You may be wondering: what exactly is a Lewy body?

Without going into the theory in depth, these are neuronal inclusions formed mainly by the accumulation of a protein, alpha-synuclein, in brain cells. Abnormal deposition of this protein leads to the formation of what are known as Lewy bodies (in honour of the researcher behind the discovery). These accumulations then interfere with the information transmitted between the various neuronal cells. The result is the appearance of a variety of symptoms. As well as being present in Lewy body dementia, the same deposits can also be found in people suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Most affected population

To date, little is known about the risk factors leading to the onset of Lewy body disease. However, scientists do point to certain facts:

• the existence of a link between this disease andAlzheimer’s as well as Parkinson’s;

• men seem to be more often affected by this disease than women;

• people aged 50 and over are more at risk;

• a certain genetic link could predispose to the disease.

Frequency of this disease in the population

The second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia is much more common than you might think. Especially since experts seem to agree that a good proportion of sufferers may never be diagnosed.

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What are the symptoms of Lewy body dementia?

Although Lewy body dementia(LBD) shares many similarities with other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, certain symptoms often stand out in older people suffering from LBD.

These include

• loss of functional autonomy;

• frequent visual hallucinations;

• Parkinson’s -like motor disorders;

• and the development of various cognitive disorders are not always constant.

The first symptoms of MCI: the onset of cognitive impairment

Among the very first symptoms that can be identified are various cognitive disorders. Impaired memory, attention and concentration, difficulty expressing oneself and disorientation are just some of the signs present in people with Lewy body disease.

• Unlike Alzheimer‘s disease, memory problems may not appear until later in the course of Lewy body dementia.

• However, this neurocognitive disorder often leads to symptoms that impair concentration and attention. It is possible to observe that these signs are not constant from one day to the next. These rather unpredictable fluctuations tend to affect the person’s daily life, as well as that of their loved ones.

• Difficulties in situating oneself in space and in one’s environment are also characteristic symptoms of this disease. These visual perception problems can have an impact on the ability to perform certain tasks and on reasoning.

Development of motor disorders

The motor symptoms that develop in patients with Lewy body dementia are very similar to those found in Parkinson’s disease.

A few main motor symptoms may then set in over time:

1. tremors (visible both at rest and with movement);

1. muscle stiffness;

1. a slowdown in the various movements.

We’re talking about what’s known as parkinsonism or parkinsonian syndrome.

Even if symptoms are initially mild for most people, they are likely to progress as the disease progresses. In such cases, certain limitations on the person’s daily activities may be observed:

• Difficulty moving around and slow gait;

• balance problems and risk of falls;

• altered posture (tendency to bend forward) ;

• rigidity even affecting facial expressions;

• difficulty rising from a seated position ;

• as well as tremors that can complicate dexterity tasks.

Want to find out more? We suggest you take a look at our article on Parkinson’s disease and how we can help elderly sufferers.

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Behavioral changes and psychological disorders

Unfortunately, a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia is often accompanied by the onset of behavioral and mood issues. For some people, these symptoms are noticeable from the very beginning of the disease. For others, they don’t appear until later.

These behavioral changes and other psychological disorders can manifest themselves in different ways.

• Visual hallucinations, which can be intense and recurrent. Unfortunately, this symptom tends to appear early and affects the majority of people with Lewy body disease.

• The development of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

• The psychotic symptoms associated with this neurodegenerative disease can even lead to delusions and certain episodes of paranoia.

How is Lewy body disease diagnosed?

Are you concerned that you may be suffering from Lewy body disease? Have you noticed that an elderly loved one is showing symptoms compatible with this cognitive disorder? Then it’s important to speak to your GP. Of course, the diagnosis of such a disease can only be made by a doctor, or even more specifically by a specialist such as a neurologist. Other professionals, such as psychiatrists and neuropsychologists, can also play an important role in the care of MCL sufferers.

Medical diagnosis is based primarily on symptoms and other clinical observations. Complementary medical examinations and certain medical images (MRI or CT scan, for example) may, however, guide the specialist.

What treatments are available for this neurodegenerative disease?

Although there is no cure for Lewy body dementia, there are solutions to help control some of the effects of this neurodegenerative disease.

• Taking the medication used to treat Alzheimer’s disease helps reduce certain cognitive symptoms.

• The use of medications also prescribed for Parkinson’s patients can help control motor symptoms such as tremors or stiffness.

• In some cases, antipsychotics may be prescribed to treat delusions and hallucinations, for example. They should be used with caution, however, as some drugs can amplify symptoms.

Of course, all these treatments require a thorough medical assessment and can only be prescribed by the attending physician or specialist. So take the time to check with your elderly loved one’s health care professional, who will be able to tell you what is most appropriate to help his or her condition.

How can I help an elderly person with Lewy body disease?

In addition to treatments arising directly from the medical field, assistive care plays an equally important role in helping people with Lewy body disease to cope with their daily lives.

Home care adapted to the specific needs of seniors

A senior in your family suffers from Lewy body dementia, and you’re wondering what you can do to help. Home care can be a tailor-made solution to help him in his daily life.

Depending on the intensity of symptoms and the stage of progression of this cognitive disorder, some seniors may be able to continue living at home despite the disease. However, these people will need assistance to help them in their daily lives. This is why we offer a range of homecare services.

Whatever the needs of your elderly loved one, you can count on our team at Visavie. We’ll take the time necessary to provide the best home care services for you and your loved one.

Find a retirement home specializing in cognitive disorders

In some cases, the best solution for the well-being of the person suffering from Lewy body disease is to find a specialized place that can offer the necessary environment and care directly on site. In Quebec, some retirement homes are specially adapted for seniors suffering from various cognitive disorders.

If the progression of Lewy body dementia means that your elderly loved one is gradually losing his or her independence, then it may be that the best thing for this person is to find a new living environment that will be better adapted to his or her needs.

Moving to a seniors’ residence is an important step, and one that can be difficult for some. Our Visavie housing advisors are there to help you make the transition as smooth as possible, thanks to their personalized support.

In short, coming to terms with a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia is not easy—neither for the person living with the condition nor for their loved ones and immediate family. The onset of symptoms such as hallucinations, the development of motor difficulties, and behavioral changes can hinder the person’s ability to live independently in their daily life. However, we are convinced that good support will help in coping with this neurodegenerative disorder.
At Visavie, our mission is to support seniors and their families with respect and dignity.

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For tailor-made home care or to take advantage of free support services in finding the right retirement home for you, contact us at any time. Our team is available 24/7 to help you.