Second Leading Cause of Dementia Commonly Misdiagnosed

The Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center (LBDRC) announced today the expansion of its resources to the State of Florida and the launch of an awareness video campaign (see video) featuring world renowned neuroscientist James E. Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., leading international expert on Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Dr. Galvin is also the Founding Director of The Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Under the guidance of Dr. Galvin, and in addition to the services they are already providing in New York, LBDRC will offer essential and personalized resources to LBD families living in Florida. The organization will soon be expanding its resources to California and Michigan.

Lewy Body Dementia was publicized in 2014 when beloved actor/comedian Robin Williams was diagnosed with the disease following an autopsy. Before his death, Mr. Williams had been diagnosed and treated for Parkinson’s disease and related depression. “Lewy Body Dementia is the second leading form of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease and most people have never even heard of it,” says Norma Loeb, Founder and Executive Director of LBDRC, which includes a comprehensive website (lewybodyresourcecenter.org) and a Helpline (516-218-2026).

According to Dr. Galvin, “Lewy Body Dementia symptoms often mimic those of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or a psychiatric disorder.” Though it affects millions of people worldwide and more than 1.4 million Americans, it is still widely misdiagnosed, often leading to patients suffering severe side effects or potentially fatal results. In 2016, Dr. Galvin opened The Comprehensive Center for Brain Health to provide personalized care for the prevention and treatment of a variety of brain disorders. There are two clinical programs offered at the center: The Diagnostic and Treatment Clinic which provides expert clinical evaluations and treatments for patients with a wide range of memory disorders, including AD and LBD, and the Dementia Prevention Program which assesses an individual’s risk profile for developing neurological diseases by using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools. Dr. Galvin is working with the Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center to help provide resources to patients suffering from LBD in Florida, and he serves on their board of directors.