Lewy Body Dementia can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can easily be missed or attributed to another condition, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or a mental illness. This is especially true in the early stages of the disease when only one or two symptoms are present and appear to have no connection. By raising awareness about LBD and educating others about its symptoms, we can help people with LBD get diagnosed sooner and receive the highest level of care possible.

Here are the top symptoms of LBD that you should familiarize yourself with:

Cognitive Fluctuations

Changes in a person’s alertness, attention and cognitive ability are symptoms of both LBD and Alzheimer’s. The difference is that, in LBD, cognitive ability is more likely to vary from day to day. In Alzheimer’s, sudden changes can occur, but they usually take place over time and develop gradually. A person with LBD, on the other hand, may know family members one day but not the next, or go from being alert and talkative to suddenly disoriented or drowsy. These fluctuations can last for minutes or hours.

Parkinsonism

Rigid muscles, a shuffling gait, tremors, , a lack of balance, poor posture, declining coordination, problems swallowing, a weak voice and a lack of facial expression (Parkinson’s mask) are all signs of parkinsonism, a symptom of both LBD and Parkinson’s disease dementia.

The NIH and other clinicians use a technique known as the “1-year rule” to differentiate between the forms of dementia. If cognitive symptoms such as visual hallucinations or cognitive fluctuations appear within one year of movement problems, then the dementia is diagnosed as LBD. If cognitive symptoms take more than a year to develop, then the disease is diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease dementia. Watch for differences in a person’s gait, such as shuffling or moving slowly, muscle stiffness and the other symptoms we’ve listed.

Visual Hallucinations

Visual hallucinations are one of the most defining symptoms associated with LBD. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), they affect up to 80% of people with LBD, appear within five years of onset and are one of the first symptoms noted in the progression of the disease. In fact, the Mayo Clinic found that people with dementia who experience visual hallucinations at any time after onset are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to progress to LBD than Alzheimer’s.

Visual hallucinations may be difficult to recognize, depending on their severity. Some examples to look for include seeing objects move when they are actually stationary, or seeing interactions between people and objects that aren’t physically present, or seeing small children or animals that aren’t actually there. It is also very common for people with LBD to see small children or animals that aren’t actually there. delete

Sleep Disorders

 Sleep disorders are more likely to occur in a person with LBD than a person with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder is the most common, but insomnia, restless leg syndrome and excessive sleepiness during the day can also occur. Difficulty sleeping at night, sleeping for 2 or more hours during the daytime, talking while asleep and violently acting out dreams are all signs to watch for.

Sensitivity to Neuroleptic Drugs

This is one of the most dangerous major symptoms of LBD. Neuroleptics, one type of antipsychotic drug should not be used to treat hallucinations, depression, aggression or other mood and behavioral issues stemming from LBD. People with LBD are more likely than people with other types of dementia to develop Neuroleptic Malignancy Syndrome. This class of medications has also been proven to worsen the effects of Parkinsonism, increase cognitive fluctuations and increase hallucinations in people with LBD.

These are the 5 biggest indicators of LBD. There are, however, some other symptoms to watch for, including depression, paranoia, anxiety, agitation, dizziness, sensitivity to hot and cold, sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence and changes in body temperature or blood pressure.

If you suspect that you or someone you care for may have LBD, it’s important to tell a medical professional about any symptoms. Don’t forget to mention if the person takes any daily medications since some drugs can exacerbate LBD symptoms. Do you need help finding a medical professional in your area? Contact us today for more information.