Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These deposits, called Lewy bodies, affect chemicals in the brain whose changes, in turn, can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood.

Lewy body dementia is one of the most common causes of dementia. Older woman looking serious Diagnosing LBD can be challenging. Early Lewy body dementia symptoms are often confused with similar symptoms found in other brain diseases like Alzheimer's or in psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. Also, Lewy body dementia can occur alone or along with other brain disorders.

There are two diagnoses of LBD- dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia. The earliest signs differ but reflect the same biological changes in the brain. Over time, people with dementia with Lewy bodies or Parkinson's disease dementia may develop similar symptoms.