Health Library

Lewy Body Disease

(Lewy Body Dementia; Dementia with Lewy Bodies)

Definition

Dementia is the progressive loss of memory and various other mental functions, including the ability to learn, reason, and judge. Lewy body disease is associated with the build up of Lewy bodies in regions of the brain. These are abnormal protein deposits inside cells that control certain aspects of memory and motor control.

Brain Cells

Causes

It is not clear exactly what causes the build up of Lewy bodies in the brain. But the disease is linked to:

Parkinson's disease
Multiple system atrophy
Alzheimer's disease
Other disorders

Risk Factors

Factors that can increase your chance of developing Lewy body disease include:

Gender: male
Age: 53-83 years
Family history of Lewy body disease, Parkinson's disease, or other dementias

Symptoms

Lewy body disease is characterized by:

Fluctuations in alertness and attention—frequent drowsiness, lethargy, staring into space, disorganized speech, and insomnia
Recurrent visual hallucinations
Poor regulation of body temperature and blood pressure
Obsessive compulsive behaviors
Forgetfulness
Parkinsonian motor symptoms—rigidity, loss of spontaneous movement
REM behavior disorder

Diagnosis

The only way to diagnose Lewy body disease is through an autopsy. A doctor can do tests to narrow the cause of dementia. You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Other tests may include:

Memory, language, and other tests
Neuropsychological tests
Patient and family interviews
You may need to have pictures taken of your bodily structures. This can be done with:
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- SPECT scan
You may need to have your bodily fluid tested. This can be done with blood tests.

Treatment

While there is no cure for Lewy body disease, there are treatments that can control the symptoms. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:

These medicines may be used to help with the symptoms:

Donepezil and rivastigmine—to help with cognition; may worsen motor symptoms
Memantine—to improve behavioral symptoms
Levodopa—to help control rigidity and loss of spontaneous movement
Antidepressants
Anticonvulsants

If you have Lewy body disease, you may be sensitive to medicines called neuroleptics. You may have adverse events with these medicines.

You may benefit from:

Physical therapy

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent this condition.

Lewy Body Dementia Association

http://www.lewybodydementia.org

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

http://www.ninds.nih.gov

Alzheimer Society

http://www.alzheimer.ca

Canadian Stroke Network

http://www.canadianstrokenetwork.ca

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Lewy body disease: LBD. Lewy Body Disease Association website. Available at: http://lbda.org/sites/default/files/booklet-for-newly-diagnosed-patients2.pdf. Accessed February 21, 2013.

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Last reviewed March 2013 by Rimas Lukas, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.