Lewy body dementia

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors

Tests and diagnosis Complications Treatments and drugs Coping and support

Definition

Dementia is a slowly progressive brain disorder characterized by the loss of ability to think, reason and remember. In Lewy body dementia, abnormal round structures — called Lewy bodies — develop in regions of your brain involved in thinking and movement.

Lewy body dementia shares characteristics with both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Like Alzheimer's, it causes confusion. It may also cause distinctive physical signs typical of Parkinson's — rigid muscles, slowed movement and tremors. Lewy body dementia can also cause hallucinations.

There's no cure for Lewy body dementia — although some people with this disease benefit from drugs developed for Alzheimer's disease. Treatment focuses on managing the signs and symptoms.

It's important that your doctor distinguishes Lewy body dementia from other forms of dementia in creating a treatment plan. This is because some medications used to treat psychiatric symptoms may actually worsen Lewy body symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.

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Symptoms