Lewy body dementia, also known as major or mild neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies, is a degenerative brain disease that affects areas responsible for functions such as memory, thinking and movement, and is caused by accumulation. proteins, called Lewy’s bodies, in brain tissue.
This disease appears with age, being more common from the age of 60, and causes symptoms such as hallucinations, progressive memory loss and difficulty concentrating, as well as tremors and muscle stiffness, being considered the second most common degenerative dementia, just after Alzheimer’s disease. .
- Although there is no cure for Lewy body dementia.
- It is possible to treat and control the symptoms.
- Using doctor-guided medications.
- Such as quetiapine or donepezil.
- For example.
- That relieve certain symptoms.
- In addition to investment in physical therapy.
- And occupational therapy.
- In this way.
- The person can live many years with maximum independence and quality of life.
Lewy body dementia has symptoms that appear gradually and slowly get worse, the main ones being:
Changes in mental capacity usually appear first, and as the disease progresses, changes in movement and mental confusion become more severe. It is also common to experience symptoms of mood swings, such as depression and apathy.
Due to similar symptoms, this disease can be confused with Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Lewy’s cause of body dementia is not yet known, so anyone can develop the condition, although it appears to be more common in men over age 60.
Lewy’s body dementia diagnosis is made by a neurologist, geriatrician, or psychiatrist, after a full evaluation of symptoms, family history, and physical examination.
While some imaging tests, such as CT or MRI, can help identify degeneration in parts of the brain, they don’t identify Lewy’s bodies, which can only be seen. after death. It is also important to use rating scales to evaluate the fluctuation of cognitive abilities.
This will differentiate this disease from others with similar symptoms, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Since there is no cure for Lewy body dementia, treatment should be guided by a neurologist, geriatrician or psychiatrist to relieve each person’s symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Therefore, the main types of treatment include
In addition, to help combat symptoms of sadness, anxiety or frequent agitation, the caregiver may turn to other alternative medicine therapies such as aromatherapy, music therapy or massages, for example.
It is also recommended to exercise to keep the brain active, avoid smoking and adopt a healthy and balanced diet, with special attention to fruits and vegetables. Check out some exercises to keep your brain active.