Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) affects an estimated 1.4 million Americans over the age of 50. This progressive form of dementia is often difficult to diagnose, and may even be imperceptible to the individual with LBD or their loved ones in the early stages. However, as the disease becomes apparent and continues to progress, appropriate and […]
Veterans May Qualify for Dementia Care
Why Geriatricians Are Essential For Older Individuals
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) primarily affects individuals over the age of 60. This disease is progressive, but a Lewy Body Dementia prognosis may be improved or more easily managed if the condition is caught in the earliest stages. Since LBD comes with a host of symptoms that are similar to other diseases, such as Parkinson’s, […]
Lewy Body Dementia and the Autonomic Nervous System
Sitting with other caregivers at our monthly LBD Caregivers’ Support Group, I’m always struck by how stressful one aspect of LBD can be for us caregivers. That is the inconsistency, fluctuations and wide variety of the many LBD symptoms. There is a sense among us that we wake up each morning never knowing what […]
What We Can Learn About Lewy Body Dementia
From the Life of Robin Williams
Beloved comedian and actor Robin Williams’ suicide in 2014 shocked the world–and left his widow, Susan Schneider Williams, looking for answers. It wasn’t until three months after his death that the autopsy report revealed the presence of Lewy bodies throughout his brain. Like many of the 1.4 million Americans with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Robin […]
Why Lewy Body Dementia is Often Unrecognized or Misdiagnosed
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is the second most prevalent form of progressive dementia. Although LBD affects approximately 1.4 million Americans, this disease is often misdiagnosed or entirely unrecognized in the earliest stages. Lewy Body Dementia symptoms can be difficult to detect, and many of the first signs are similar to other conditions, which is why […]
Emotional Support Needs of Late-Stage Dementia Care Partners
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) progresses in stages. Although the earliest signs of LBD may be difficult to detect or even indiscernible to friends, the later stages of the disease require a high level of assistance. If your loved one has a Lewy Body Dementia diagnosis and begins to enter the final stages of this type of […]
Signs It’s Time to Hire a Full-Time Dementia Care Partner
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) affects approximately 1.4 million Americans and is most common in individuals over the age of 50. Although the earliest Lewy Body Dementia stages may be difficult to detect, the condition progresses with time and will eventually cause significant life disruptions. Late-stage LBD is categorized as moderately severe cognitive decline to […]
Recognizing the Signs of Stage Four Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) develops in stages and a diagnosis is often difficult to determine in the earliest phases of the disease. While the first symptoms of LBD may be subtle and easy to brush off, stage four is when many individuals living with dementia are officially diagnosed. During this stage, doctors are able to […]
Recognizing the Early Signs of Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) develops gradually, and those with LBD progress through seven distinctive stages. In the first stage, the individual does not experience any cognitive decline and does not have dementia. The second and third stages are marked by mild cognitive decline, but the first signs of dementia are often difficult to detect since […]
What I Learned About Lewy Body Dementia from My Dad
By: Judi Brownell My dad taught physical education at a small private college. He was the golf and wrestling coach for as long as I can remember. It was the perfect position for someone who had been an athlete himself his whole life. He and his 5-year-old older brother made money for their family by […]