You may have read about Lewy body dementia in the news recently following the sad passing of Sir Patrick Stewart. If you don’t know what Lewy body dementia is, you’re not alone. Here’s what you need to know.
Dementia is caused by different diseases that affect the brain. Lewy body dementia is caused by Lewy body disease. About 1 in 10 people with dementia has Lewy body dementia. In this disease, tiny clumps of proteins known as Lewy bodies appear in the nerve cells of the brain, causing a range of symptoms, some of which are shared by Alzheimer’s disease and some by Parkinson’s disease.For this reason, dementia with Lewy bodies is often wrongly diagnosed.
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Both Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can cause problems with staying focused, difficulties with making decisions, memory loss, and problems with the way the person sees things around them. However, Lewy body dementia also causes symptoms that are not usually seen in Alzheimer’s disease. These include hallucinations, problems staying fully awake, difficulties with movement and very disturbed sleep.
We have more information about Lewy body dementia on our website. And if you’re worried about yourself or someone else, give our Dementia Support Line a call on 0333 150 3456.
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
