Early Signs and Causes of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) | 7 Stages

20 Jan Early Signs and Causes of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) | 7 Stages

“Do I know you? Wait, I just saw a deer passing!”

Well, if someone elderly you know is behaving this way, it’s time to see the doctor. He/she may be at the early stages of Lewy body dementia and these might be early Lewy body dementia symptoms. 

After Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia is the third most common cause of dementia.

In fact, dementia with Lewy body is a really disturbing and devastating brain disorder that has no proper treatment. 

It can make aging difficult and lead to a miserable life for both the patient and their loved ones.

But depending upon the signs, treatments, and therapies can help control the symptoms. 

However, the early signs and symptoms of Lewy body dementia can be difficult to notice. 

So, let’s have a look at some of the Lewy body dementia first symptoms to understand more in-depth.

6 Early Signs Of Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy body dementia is common among elders above 50 years. 

And even though it is different from other types of progressive dementia, Lewy body dementia symptoms may mimic the signs of other neurological disorders and diseases and create confusion.

Moreover, LBD affects people differently and its symptoms may also vary. 

Hence, here we have discussed some of the common early signs of Lewy body dementia that every adult needs to be aware of:

#1. Hallucinations

#2. Problematic Mental Abilities

#3. Movement Issues

#4. Behavioral Changes

#5. Sleep Disturbances

#6. Fluctuating Attention

Now, let’s discuss these LBD signs and symptoms in detail.

#1. Hallucinations And Delusion

Hallucinations are one of the common earliest signs of Lewy body dementia. 

Generally, these hallucinations are visual, sound-based, touch-based, and smell hallucinations may also happen. 

The visual hallucinations that occur due to Lewy body dementia include the patient describing animals, people, and shapes that aren’t even real. 

Moreover, persistent visual hallucinations and delusional feelings become a major reason among the elderly to give up driving. 

#2. Problematic Mental Abilities And Alertness Issues

Cognitive fluctuations are among the Lewy body early symptoms. 

These fluctuations include confusion, poor attention, memory loss, and visual-spatial problems.

People suffering from Lewy body dementia always feel tired despite getting full hours of sleep. Hence, they find it difficult to concentrate on even everyday tasks.

#3. Movement Issues

Movement problems are common with age. But it’s important to look for symptoms related to Lewy body dementia. 

Around two-thirds of the people diagnosed with Lewy dementia have movement problems. These movement-related symptoms are also related to Parkinson’s disease. 

These include:

1. Difficulty with balance
2. Trembling limbs
3. Stiff and slow movements of limbs
4. Shuffling walk
5. Rigid muscles
6. Stooped posture

#4. Behavioral Changes

Behavioral and mood changes like anxiety, depression, apathy, paranoia, agitation, and aggression can be commonly seen in patients with Lewy body dementia. 

People dealing with this illness often feel less motivated and isolate themselves. 

#5. Sleep Disturbances

Difficulty in sleeping is one of the common early symptoms of Lewy body dementia. 

You must have noticed it in elderly people. While they can easily fall asleep during the daytime, they find it hard to sleep at night. 

Additionally, if the person shows frequent eye movements, which is a sleep behavior disorder, it can cause them to act out their dreams physically, which will result in sleep difficulties. 

#6. Fluctuating Attention

Lewy body dementia can affect the human body system in many ways and is not just restricted to dementia and movement issues. 

It can create problems with how the body works and may lead to:

1. Constipation
2. Small episodes of drowsiness
3. Constant staring at one place
4. Long naps during the daytime
5. Urine passing problems (need to pass urine in a hurry, very often, or not able to pass it).
6. Dip in blood pressure when standing up
7. Erectile dysfunction

These symptoms are usually witnessed at the early stages of Lewy body dementia. 

Moreover, generally, Lewy body dementia progresses over time. And these symptoms which look quite unproblematic at the beginning start to get severe and create everyday discomfort. 

So, what are the causes behind developing Lewy body dementia?

What Causes Lewy Body Dementia?

Deposits of abnormal proteins in masses is mainly what causes dementia in the Lewy body. 

Moreover, these are found inside the brain cells and are also linked with Parkinson’s disease. 

The build-up of proteins around the brain areas causes a restriction in movements and memory problems. 

Henceforth, technically, the Lewy body causes brain cells to die and interfere with the natural biological functions which tend to get worse over time. 

Some of the risk factors that can increase the risk of causing Lewy body dementia are:

• People older than 50 are at greater risk.
• Dementia with Lewy body affects more men than women.
• People with a family history of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease are at greater risk. 

Notably, it was found in a study that Lewy body dementia has ties to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. 

In the genetic study, scientists came up with five genes that are strongly suspected to play a role in Lewy body dementia. 

Researchers further analyzed data from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. And the results support the idea that problems responsible for these diseases may also happen in LBD. 

Notably, the changes in the behavior and biological functions don’t happen all of a sudden but rather happen in stages. 

What Are The 7 Stages Of Lewy Body Dementia?

Lewy body dementia or Dementia with Lewy body is quite a tough nut to crack. And by the time people take it seriously, it already starts to cause a problem in daily routine. 

Like Alzheimer’s, dementia with Lewy body also progresses over time and this happens in several stages. 

The seven stages of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) are:

Stage 1: Absolutely Normal Stage

The first stage is completely undetectable by the patients and physicians. 

There are no symptoms at this stage and the patient feels absolutely normal. 

MRI and CT scans might show some findings during routine tests.

Patients don’t feel any cognitive decline.

However, daytime naps, hallucinations, and mood swings might be slightly witnessed by some patients. 

Stage 2: Very Mild Symptoms

At the second stage, the patient might have some mild cognitive decline and show early Lewy body dementia symptoms.

These instances may include:

1. Mild forgetfulness
2. Trouble locating objects
3. Instances of forgetting names

Stage 3: Mild Symptoms

The third stage involves mild symptoms which are noticeable by people around and the individual. 

The mild LBD symptoms at this stage include:

1. Mild memory loss
2. A decline in the ability to concentrate
3. Mild forgetfulness
4. Increased risk of falling
5. Difficulty in continuing everyday tasks

Stage 4: Moderate Symptoms

Stage four of Lewy body dementia shows moderate symptoms. 

Moreover, at this stage, patients have confirmed diagnosis and have the following symptoms:

1. Tremors and difficulty in speaking
2. Difficulty in recalling significant details
3. Difficulties in swallowing, choking, and excessive drooling are the most common symptoms of Lewy body dementia at this stage.
4. High risk of falling
5. Increased risk of health problems
6. Severe incidents of forgetfulness
7. Difficulty in performing daily tasks

Stage 5: Severe Symptoms

Stage five marks moderately severe symptoms. 

Individuals at this stage of Lewy body dementia experience the following symptoms:

1. Notable memory loss
2. Needs assistance with daily chores like meal preparation and bathing
3. Fever in people with a high risk of diseases
4. Requirement of 24 hrs assistance
5. A constant state of delusion and feeling of paranoia
6. Confusion and difficulty in living alone 

Stage 6: Severe Symptoms

At the sixth level of dementia, patients need a high level of assistance and care. 

This stage lasts for nearly two and half years and symptoms are likely to increase. 

The 6th stage of Lewy body dementia exhibit the following symptoms:

1. Memory loss is evident. People start to forget some part of their early life. 
2. Urinary incontinence is common at this stage.
3. Patients begin to lose their ability to speak.
4. Patients need high assistance to live comfortably.

Stage 7: Very Severe Symptoms

This is the last stage of Lewy body dementia and usually lasts for 1.5 to 2.5 years. Patients at this stage:

1. Lose their ability to communicate
2. Are unable to walk
3. Patients need full-day assistance for their daily activities. 

While the early symptoms of Lewy body dementia are hardly noticeable, the symptoms show a progression. And it becomes more than difficult for the patient to survive without any assistance. 

And this calls for proper treatment. 

But is there a treatment for dementia with Lewy body?

Let’s find out.

Lewy Body Dementia Treatment

There is no complete cure for the brain cell damage done by Lewy body dementia. 

However, some treatments can definitely help manage the symptoms. 

The Lewy body dementia treatments are divided into two parts:

#1. Medical Treatment

#2. Support And Therapies

Medical Treatments

First things first, medicines cannot stop dementia, but taking medicines can definitely help people reduce some of the symptoms. 

Some of the medicines that can control the Lewy body symptoms are:

1. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like galantamine and donepezil help with improving symptoms like hallucinations and confusion.

However, its side effects include headaches, tiredness, and diarrhea.

2. Memantine

Memantine is great for those who can’t take inhibitors. It’s used for those with moderate to severe Lewy body dementia. 

Its side effects include temporary dizziness, constipation, and headaches.

3. Other medicines for LBD symptoms include antidepressants and antipsychotics.

Support And Therapies

Along with medications, therapies can also help make life easier for those suffering from Lewy body dementia. 

The therapies and practical measures include:

1. Occupational therapy to help identify everyday problems, such as getting dressed. 
2. Speech therapy to help with communication and swallowing problems. 
3. Physiotherapy to treat movement issues. 
4. Psychological therapies to improve memory skills, problem-solving skills, and language issues. 
5. Massage, music, and dance therapy to provide relaxation. 
6. Social interactions and sessions with people to tackle memory problems. 

Understanding Lewy body dementia and having a treatment plan can help you stay sane and enjoy aging.

At The End

The microscopic deposits that damage the brain cells over time lead to a decline in thinking and restrict the movements in some of the biological functions. 

Moreover, because of unnoticeable early symptoms of Lewy body dementia, the early signs are commonly concluded as a result of getting old. 

However, some of the symptoms like forgetfulness get recognized at the early stages of Lewy body dementia. 

When diagnosed, the severity of the symptoms can be delayed with proper treatment. 

If you or your loved one is dealing with dementia, take care and make them feel secure and safe by just being with them. 

We hope you found the read informative. Drop any of your queries right below.

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