Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common type of dementia, thought to account for 10-15% of all cases of dementia. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is named after the damaging protein deposits that cause the disease, known as Lewy bodies. These deposits are made up of a protein called “alpha-synuclein”, and are also a pathological feature of Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies
Similar to other types of dementia, the way someone with DLB is affected by the disease will depend on which brain areas are damaged. Frequently reported symptoms in the early stages of DLB are visual hallucinations, sleep problems and changes in concentration, attention and mood. These symptoms can come and go unpredictably. People with DLB may also experience movement problems, such as tremors, muscle rigidity, loss of coordination, and a shuffling walk. As DLB progresses, people often develop problems with memory loss, and may have trouble regulating body functions such as blood pressure and temperature.