What is LBD?
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is frequently misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, or a psychiatric disorder. This is due to the fact that symptoms can be inconsistent and difficult to track. People with LBD suffer cognitive impairment and struggle with complex daily tasks like those with Alzheimer’s, but are less prone to the short-term memory loss they incur. Similar to Parkinson’s patients, those with LBD often present two or three physical manifestations such as abnormal gait, rigidity, and slowness. They also experience visuospatial issues (the ability to understand visual representations and their spatial relationships). Having difficulty with walking, navigating and judging distances can result in falls.
In addition, hallucinations are common as are changes in awareness. Individuals with LBD can also experience sleep disturbances in which they act out unpleasant dreams. “People can appear drowsy or sleeping, have staring spells, think illogically and incoherently. These episodes wax and wane, lasting seconds or minutes or hours. And they’re unpredictable,” said Dr. James Galvin, a neurologist at NYU Langone Medical Center who has published extensively on the subject. Dr. Gavin recommends discussing the possibility of LBD with your loved one’s doctor. If they exhibit more than just the memory loss typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
How To Help
LBD progresses very quickly, much more quickly than Alzheimer’s disease. It is difficult to obtain a diagnosis, but much of the methods used to help people with Alzheimer’s. Such as having patience for their behaviour, making an effort to regularly communicate with them. And offering limited choices by being with them in their reality can help and make life a little easier.
Even though medication is not the ultimate solution for disease control, it plays a part to ease some symptoms. There are medications that can help those suffering from LBD. Most often, it is a combination of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s medications. As well as antipsychotics and stimulants. Keep in mind though; certain antipsychotics and antinausea treatments can result in adverse reactions for those with LBD. It’s important to try to obtain a correct diagnosis. So that the family and their caregivers can educate themselves and make plans for the future.
It’s easy to see why doctors could misdiagnose LBD. If you or someone you know has a loved one suffering from LBD, you can find more information at the Lewy Body Dementia Association’s website: http://www.lbda.org/
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