LBD Lewy Body Dementia Association Link

With the Increase discussion about LBD surrounding Robin Williams Death as posted by BAILEY and PARKIE13, I searched for more information. Two paragraphs below that I found particularly interesting: *****

Here is a link to the LBD Assoc. in the U.S.A.

lbda.org/category/3437/what...

Following copied from above Site

LBD is not a rare disease. It affects an estimated 1.4 million individuals and their families in the United States.

*******Because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly known diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, it is currently widely underdiagnosed. Many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD.

LBD is an umbrella term for two related diagnoses. LBD refers to both Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. The earliest symptoms of these two diseases differ, but reflect the same underlying biological changes in the brain. Over time, people with both diagnoses will develop very similar cognitive, physical, sleep, and behavioral symptoms.

While it may take more than a year or two for enough symptoms to develop for a doctor to diagnose LBD, it is critical to pursue a formal diagnosis. Early diagnosis allows for important early treatment that may extend quality of life and independence.

LBD is a multisystem disease and typically requires a comprehensive treatment approach. This approach involves a team of physicians from different specialties who collaborate to provide optimum treatment of each symptom without worsening other LBD symptoms. Many people with LBD enjoy significant improvement of their symptoms with a comprehensive approach to treatment, and some can have remarkably little change from year to year.

*****Some people with LBD are extremely sensitive or may react negatively to certain medications used to treat Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s in addition to certain over-the-counter medications.

Who was Lewy?

In the early 1900s, while researching Parkinson's disease, the scientist Friederich H. Lewy discovered abnormal protein deposits that disrupt the brain's normal functioning. These Lewy body proteins are found in an area of the brain stem where they deplete the neurotransmitter dopamine, causing Parkinsonian symptoms. In Lewy body dementia, these abnormal proteins are diffuse throughout other areas of the brain, including the cerebral cortex. The brain chemical acetylcholine is depleted, causing disruption of perception, thinking and behavior. Lewy body dementia exists either in pure form, or in conjunction with other brain changes, including those typically seen in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

[Hikoi]

Great summary Gymbag.

LBD is second most common dementia after Alzheimer's but not talked about, even the news report on robin Williams said i believe I incorrectly, that it is rare.

[p-oui]

GymBag, thanks for sharing Lewy body dementia info, it is a little sad that we don't have better diagnostic tools for PD and LBD. A lot of confusion with so much overlap between PD LBD and Alzheimers.