First things first – Dementia is not synonymous with Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is actually a collection of symptoms that are related to cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease is one form of this. There are five major dementias that affect seniors today, but experts believe there may be more types out there. These five dementias are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia (LBD), Parkinson’s dementia and frontotemporal dementia.
“Lewy body dementia is a progressive form of dementia and is estimated to be the third most common cause of dementia,” says Chrissy Ross, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee. “Like other forms of dementia, LBD is similar to Alzheimer’s disease but not identical.”
Chrissy says that there is not a specific test that can determine whether an individual has LBD. “LBD is called a clinical diagnosis because it’s based on a doctor’s judgment instead of specific tests,” she explains. “There’s no way to officially diagnose LBD except through a postmortem autopsy.”
What are Lewy bodies?
Lewy body dementia is so named because of the abnormalities that are developed in the brain. These “Lewy bodies” were named after the neurologist who discovered them: Dr. Friedrich H. Lewy. Lewy bodies are chiefly made up of alpha-synuclein proteins, which is a normal component of the brain (whose function we don’t know yet). Lewy bodies aren’t just limited to LBD. They’re also found in other brain disorders like Parkinson’s dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, LBD and Parkinson’s dementia are considered by some to be two iterations of the same underlying dementia.
What are the symptoms of LBD?
Individuals with LBD experience changes in thinking and reasoning, issues with mobility, confusion and disorientation, difficulty interpreting visual information and, most notably, movements that are similar to Parkinson’s disease (shuffling walk, imbalanced gait and slowness, for example). Memory loss can be a part of LBD, but the loss is less severe and noticeable than the memory loss experienced by those with Alzheimer’s disease.
How is LBD diagnosed?
LBD manifests slightly differently than dementias like vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A doctor will diagnose LBD when dementia symptoms that are consistent with LBD are the first symptoms developed. LBD can also be diagnosed if dementia and movement systems are manifesting at the same time. Finally, LBD can be diagnosed if dementia begins to manifest one year after someone has had movement and mobility symptoms. As you can see, there are a lot of overlaps between LBD and Alzheimer’s disease, which can make it difficult to distinguish the two.
What causes LBD to develop?
Currently, scientists don’t know why or how Lewy body dementia develops. Although we know about the proteins that are present in this form of dementia, the cause LBD – like Alzheimer’s – still remains a mystery to us. Most individuals who have this form of dementia don’t have a family history of LBD, and no genes have been identified as of yet that would indicate a predisposition to developing it.
How is LBD treated?
Like other forms of dementia, there is no way to stop the brain cell damage that is caused by LBD. Unfortunately, there are also no treatments that can slow the damage, either. Most medical strategies these days are focused on controlling and managing symptoms. There are certain medications that can be used to treat LBD. Cholinesterase inhibitor drugs can be used to help treat thinking changes in LBD (they are also used to help those with Alzheimer’s). Antidepressants may be used to help treat depression, anxiety and stress.
How can I reduce my risk of developing LBD?
As with other forms of dementia, living a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing LBD and other issues like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain forms of cancer. Here are some suggestions on how to do that:
- Eat a healthy diet that’s high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats and low-fat dairy. Avoid overly processed food, too much sodium or sugar and fatty meats.
- Exercise regularly. The CDC recommends approximately 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week of moderate aerobic exercise.
- Drink a morning cup of coffee. Some studies have shown that caffeine may help reduce the risk of developing Lewy body dementia.
- Stay socially connected. Social connections improve our mood and reduce our risk of developing anxiety and dementia (both factors that can raise your risk of developing dementia).
- Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep has recently been discovered to be a sort of “reset” button for your brain, allowing the organ to clear out toxins that may be connected to developing dementia.
- Do something every day that you enjoy, whether that’s learning a new hobby, spending time with family or reading a good book.
Peace of Mind for Cape Cod Seniors and Their Families
Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee provides memory care assisted living that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, our community creates a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity, respects individual preferences and makes a positive impact on the lives of our residents every day.
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Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee offers compassionate dementia care and unique programs that are tailored to meet the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of each resident – throughout every stage of disease progression. Residents can age in place comfortably and with dignity while families gain peace of mind.
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At Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee, we offer a program of care and services that celebrates life and supports individual strengths. Our compassionate and engaging approach adapts to the unique challenges and individuality of each resident. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment.
Bridges® by EPOCH is New England’s largest stand-alone memory care assisted living provider.