Kevin Rath

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.