Lewy body dementia(LBD) andAlzheimers diseaseare two types ofdementia.
There are several similarities but also some clear differences between the two progressive neurological (nervous system-related) disorders.
There is no cure for either condition.
Illustration by Laura Porter for Verywell Health
This article takes a look at how Lewy body dementia differs from Alzheimer’s disease.
The underlying causes of Alzheimer’s and LBD can and often do overlap.
It is thought to be slightly more common in males than females.
Because LBD is thought to be underdiagnosed, the actual number of people with the disease may be higher.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common bang out of dementia.
As many as 5.8 million people in the United States are living with this progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
Females are more affected than males but tend to live longer.
When clumps of these proteins accumulate, nerves in the brain start to lose their function and eventually die.
The damage in the brain is widespread and affects many domains of thinking and functioning.
The abnormal twisting of another protein calledtaucauses neurofibrillary tangles that block signals between nerve cells.
Over time, the progressive damage will kill the cells.
While less is known about LBD, there are known risk factors for this throw in of dementia.
Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have both similarities and differences in their symptoms.
With both LBD and Alzheimer’s, cognition is affected but in significantly different ways.
With LBD, the loss of cognition and memory can fluctuate.
The memory impacts progress over time.
These symptoms are similar to Parkinsons disease.Frequent fallingis also common early in the disease.
With Alzheimer’s,physical deteriorationusually does not occur until the disease is advanced.
Some people with LBD display a flat affect, wherein their faces show very little emotion.
This is another symptom present early in LBD and overlaps with Parkinsons.
While facial expressions often decrease with Alzheimer’s, this usually doesnt until thelater stages.
Are LBD and Parkinson’s the Same?
Some research suggests that REM sleep behavior disorder is an earlier predictor of LBD.
Another common LBD symptom is visualhallucinations, wherein people will see things that arent there.
These hallucinations typically occur earlier in the course of LBD.
Hallucinations do occur with Alzheimers but are not as common.
They also tend to occur in the later stages of the disease.
Similarly, REM sleep behavior disorder is not characteristic of Alzheimer’s, although other types ofsleep disturbancescan occur.
Sensitivity to Antipsychotics
People with LBD have a high risk of serious side effects fromantipsychotic medications.
These are sometimes used as a last resort for people with behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Lewy Body Dementia
There is no cure for LBD.
Some symptoms can be managed with a treatment plan that may include medications, physical therapy, and counseling.
The plan may also involve improving home safety and the everyday quality of life.
A combination of drugs calledcarbidopa-levodopamay be prescribed to improve LBD-related mobility problems, although they will not reverse symptoms.
Options include Razadyne (galantamine), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Aricept (donepezil).
This includes the drug Namenda (memantine).
Prognosis for LBD
By and large, the prognosis of LBD is less favorable than Alzheimer’s.
This is far less than expected in people with Alzheimer’s, although outcomes can vary.
Death is often the result ofrespiratory failuredue to damage to the part of the brain that regulates breathing.
By contrast, people with Alzheimer’s survive for between four and 10 years after they are diagnosed.
The main cause of death from Alzheimer’s is secondary infections likepneumonia.
Lewy body dementia progresses faster and comes with a shorter life expectancy compared to Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s progresses somewhat slower and mainly affects memory, behavior, awareness, and language.
Because the causes and risk factors differ, the treatment of LBD and Alzheimer’s also varies.
Even so, LBD is frequently mistaken for Alzheimer’s and, as such may be treated inappropriately.
Knowing the differences can help you to better understand the diseases and speak with healthcare providers about them.
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