Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Dementia, this disorder that affects brain function, not a single disease but a group of them that are grouped under one term. It has many faces and, unfortunately, they are all ugly. The best known form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, followed by dementia with Lewy bodies, which also is progressive and incurable. Learn to identify your symptoms so you can help if a loved one is affected.
Dementia, the irreversible loss of intellectual capacity covered by the report, the ability to express themselves and communicate with others, as well as organizing the daily work and to lead a productive, independent lives, affects millions of people, especially the elderly. It’s a common misconception that it is a single disease. In fact, there are several types of dementia, as there are different types of cancer.
The risk of developing dementia increases with age, but even normal mental capacity to be losing some over the years, dementia is not a natural process of aging and affects all seniors. Less than 2% of people between 65 and 69 years have dementia. This tends to occur at a later age:
- Occurs in 5% of people between 71 and 79, in 24% of people between 80 and 89, and 37% of people 90 years and older.
- It is a progressive disease that worsens over time. So far there is no cure, the symptoms are not reversible and the damage done is permanent.
- Over time, affected individuals may not care for themselves and their families and they have to be tailored to this reality, harsh as it is.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
This type of dementia accounting for up to 20% of all dementia cases and is the second in incidence after Alzheimer’s disease. Named after Frederick Lewy, the doctor who first identified in 1912, precisely while working in the laboratory of Dr. Alois Alzheimer. It is characterized by the presence of small spherical protein deposits (called Lewy bodies) that are destroying the normal functioning of the brain.
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