Lewy body dementia, also known as major or mild neuro-cognitive disorder with Lewy bodies, is a degenerative brain disease that affects regions responsible for functions such as memory, thinking and movement, and is caused by accumulation of proteins, known as Lewy bodies, in brain tissue.
This disease appears with advancing age, being more common over 60 years, and causes symptoms such as hallucinations, progressive memory loss and difficulty in concentrating, as well as muscle tremors and stiffness, being considered the second most common type of degenerative dementia, right after Alzheimer's.
Although there is no cure for Lewy bodies dementia, it is possible to carry out the treatment and control the symptoms, with the use of medications guided by the doctor, such as Quetiapine or Donepezila, for example, which relieve some symptoms, in addition to the investment in physical therapy. and occupational therapy. In this way, the person can live for many years with maximum independence and quality of life.
Main symptoms
Lewy body dementia has symptoms that appear gradually and worsen slowly. The main ones are:
- Loss of mental abilities, called cognitive functions, such as memory, concentration, attention, communication and language;
- Mental confusion and disorientation, which oscillate between moments of extreme confusion and quieter moments;
- Muscle tremors and stiffness, known as parkinsonism, because they mimic Parkinson's movements;
- Visual hallucinations, in which the person sees things that do not exist, such as animals or children, for example;
- Difficulty in assessing distances, called visospatial changes, which can lead to frequent falls;
- Changes in the REM phase of sleep, which can manifest with movement, speech, or screaming during sleep.
Generally, changes in mental abilities appear first, and as the disease progresses, changes in movement appear, and mental confusion becomes more serious. It is also common to experience symptoms of mood swings, such as depression and apathy.
Due to similar symptoms, this disease can be mistaken for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. There is still no known cause for Lewy Body Dementia, so anyone can develop this disease, although it seems to be more common in men over 60.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies is made by a neurologist, geriatrician or psychiatrist, after a complete assessment of symptoms, family history and physical examination.
Although some imaging tests, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, can help identify degeneration of some parts of the brain, they fail to identify Lewy bodies, which can only be seen after death. It is also important to use rating scales to assess the fluctuation of cognitive abilities.
In this way, the doctor will differentiate this disease from others with similar symptoms, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and indicate the most suitable treatment.
How the treatment is done
Since there is no cure for dementia with Lewy bodies, treatment should be guided by a neurologist, geriatrician or psychiatrist to alleviate the symptoms of each person and improve the quality of life of the carrier.
So the main types of treatment include:
- Antipsychotic remedies, such as Quetiapine or Olanzapine: they allow to reduce the frequency of hallucinations, however, they can cause several side effects or worsen the general condition of the person and, therefore, when used, they must be constantly evaluated by a doctor;
- Remedies for memory, such as Donepezila or Rivastigmine: increase the production of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can improve concentration, memory and reduce the appearance of hallucinations and other behavior problems;
- Remedies to improve motor skills, such as Carbidopa and Levodopa, widely used in Parkinson's: they reduce motor symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness or slow movement. However, hallucinations and confusion can worsen, and can therefore be associated with remedies for memory;
- Antidepressant remedies, such as Sertraline or Citalopam: used to improve depressive symptoms, in addition to helping to control behavior and regulate sleep;
- Physiotherapy: helps to maintain muscle strength and flexibility, in addition to improving cardiovascular capacity with various types of exercises;
- Occupational therapy: it is very important to help maintain independence, teaching the person to do daily tasks with their new limitations.
In addition, to help combat symptoms of frequent sadness, anxiety or agitation, the caregiver can use other alternative medicine therapies such as aromatherapy, music therapy or massage, for example.
It is also recommended to exercise to keep the brain active, avoid smoking and adopt a healthy and balanced diet, giving preference to fruits and vegetables. Check out some exercises that allow you to keep your brain active.
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