People who have dementia with Lewy bodies fluctuate between alertness and drowsiness and may have hallucinations, difficulty drawing, and difficulty moving that is similar to that due to Parkinson disease.
Parkinson disease dementia typically develops about 10 to 15 years after other symptoms of Parkinson disease.
Diagnosis is based on symptoms.
Strategies are used to prolong functioning as long as possible, and the medications used to treat Alzheimer disease may help.
(See also Overview of Delirium and Dementia Overview of Delirium and Dementia Delirium and dementia are the most common causes of mental (cognitive) dysfunction—the inability to acquire, retain, and use knowledge normally. Although delirium and dementia may occur together... read more and Dementia Dementia Dementia is a slow, progressive decline in mental function including memory, thinking, judgment, and the ability to learn. Typically, symptoms include memory loss, problems using language and... read more .)
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common type of dementia. Dementia with Lewy bodies usually develops in people older than 60.
About 40% of people with Parkinson disease Parkinson Disease (PD) Parkinson disease is a slowly progressive degenerative disorder of specific areas of the brain. It is characterized by tremor when muscles are at rest (resting tremor), increased muscle tone... read more develop Parkinson disease dementia. The dementia usually develops after age 70 and about 10 to 15 years after Parkinson disease is diagnosed.
Dementia Dementia Dementia is a slow, progressive decline in mental function including memory, thinking, judgment, and the ability to learn. Typically, symptoms include memory loss, problems using language and... read more is a slow, progressive decline in mental function including memory, thinking, judgment, and the ability to learn.
Dementia differs from delirium Delirium Delirium is a sudden, fluctuating, and usually reversible disturbance of mental function. It is characterized by an inability to pay attention, disorientation, an inability to think clearly... read more , which is characterized by an inability to pay attention, disorientation, an inability to think clearly, and fluctuations in the level of alertness.
Dementia affects mainly memory, and delirium affects mainly attention.
Dementia typically begins gradually and has no definite beginning point. Delirium begins suddenly and often has a definite beginning point.
Changes in the brain
In dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia, abnormal round deposits of a protein (called Lewy bodies) form in nerve cells. Lewy bodies result in the death of nerve cells.
In dementia with Lewy bodies, the Lewy bodies form throughout the outer layer of the brain (gray matter, or cerebral cortex). The cerebral cortex, which is the largest part of the brain, is responsible for thinking, perceiving, and using and understanding language.
In Parkinson disease dementia, the Lewy bodies tend to form in part of the brain called the substantia nigra, the part that is affected in Parkinson disease. The substantia nigra is located deep within the brain stem and helps make movements smooth. The brain stem connects the brain with the spinal cord.
Dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia may be variations of one disorder. In this disorder, synuclein (a protein in the brain that helps nerve cells communicate) changes shape (misfolds) and slowly accumulates mostly in the brain but also in the digestive tract and heart. These abnormal deposits of synuclein are called Lewy bodies. The misfolded synuclein in Lewy bodies triggers more synuclein to misfold, resulting in the formation of more Lewy bodies. Brain damage results from the accumulation of Lewy bodies. Misfolded proteins that cause brain damage in this way are called prions Overview of Prion Diseases Prion diseases are rare progressive, fatal, and currently untreatable degenerative disorders of the brain (and rarely of other organs) that result when a protein changes into an abnormal form... read more . Prions cause other brain disorders such as Creutzfeld-Jacob disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a prion disease characterized by progressive deterioration of mental function, leading to dementia, involuntary jerking of muscles (myoclonus), and staggering when... read more .
Lewy bodies also develop in some people with Alzheimer disease, although neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic (senile) plaques seem to be the main source of damage. Neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques, typical in Alzheimer disease Alzheimer Disease Alzheimer disease is a progressive loss of mental function, characterized by degeneration of brain tissue, including loss of nerve cells, the accumulation of an abnormal protein called beta-amyloid... read more , sometimes develop in people who have dementia with Lewy bodies. Dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson disease dementia, and Alzheimer disease overlap considerably, and more research is needed to clarify their relationships.
Symptoms
Dementia with Lewy bodies
The symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies are very similar to those of Alzheimer disease. They include memory loss, disorientation, and problems remembering, thinking, understanding, communicating, and controlling behavior. But dementia with Lewy bodies can be distinguished by the following:
In the early stages, mental function fluctuates, often dramatically, over a period of days to weeks but sometimes from moment to moment. One day, people may be alert and able to pay attention and converse coherently, and the next day, they may be drowsy, inattentive, and almost mute. People may stare into space for long periods.
At first, attention and alertness may be more impaired than memory, including memory for recent events. In the early stages of this dementia, memory problems may result more from lack of attention than from actual problems remembering. More noticeable memory problems tend to occur later as the dementia progresses.
People have difficulty planning, solving problems, handling complex tasks (such as managing a bank account), and using good judgment (called executive function).
The ability to copy and draw may be impaired more severely than other brain functions.
Psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations Hallucinations Healthy people differ significantly in their overall personality, mood, and behavior. Each person also varies from day to day, depending on the circumstances. However, a sudden, major change... read more , delusions Delusions Healthy people differ significantly in their overall personality, mood, and behavior. Each person also varies from day to day, depending on the circumstances. However, a sudden, major change... read more , and paranoia, are more common in dementia with Lewy bodies, and hallucinations tend to occur earlier.
In dementia with Lewy bodies, hallucinations are usually visual ones, which are often complex and detailed. They may include recognizable animals or people. The hallucinations are often threatening. Over half of people who have dementia with Lewy bodies have complex, bizarre delusions. Instead of relieving these symptoms, antipsychotic medications Antipsychotic drugs Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by loss of contact with reality (psychosis), hallucinations (usually, hearing voices), firmly held false beliefs (delusions), abnormal thinking... read more often make them and other symptoms worse or have other severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects, such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is confusion or unresponsiveness, muscle rigidity, high body temperature, and other symptoms that occur when certain antipsychotic (neuroleptic) drugs or anti-vomiting... read more
Like people who have Parkinson disease, people who have dementia with Lewy bodies have stiff muscles, move slowly and sluggishly, shuffle when they walk, and stoop over. Balance is easily lost, making falls more likely. Tremor also develops, but it usually develops later and causes fewer problems than it does in Parkinson disease. Problems with thinking and problems with muscles and movement usually begin within 1 year of each other.
Sleep problems are common. Many people with dementia with Lewy bodies have rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder Parasomnias are unusual behaviors that occur just before falling asleep, during sleep, or when waking up. (See also Overview of Sleep.) Various unconscious and largely unremembered behaviors... read more . People with this disorder act out their dreams, sometimes injuring their bed partner.
The autonomic nervous system Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System The autonomic nervous system regulates certain body processes, such as blood pressure and the rate of breathing. This system works automatically (autonomously), without a person’s conscious... read more 
may malfunction, preventing the body from regulating internal functions, such as blood pressure and body temperature. As a result, people may faint, sweat too much or too little, have a dry mouth, or have urinary problems or constipation.
After symptoms appear, people usually live about 6 to 12 years.
Parkinson disease dementia
In Parkinson disease dementia (unlike in dementia with Lewy bodies), mental function typically begins to deteriorate about 10 to 15 years after problems with muscles and movement appear.
As in other dementias, many mental functions can be affected. Memory is impaired, and people have difficulty paying attention and processing information. People think more slowly. Problems with planning and doing complex tasks occur earlier and are more common than in Alzheimer disease.
Hallucinations and delusions are less common and/or less severe than in dementia with Lewy bodies.
In Parkinson disease dementia, problems with balance and walking and falls are more common, and muscle problems (such as stiffness and slowed movements) worsen more rapidly than in Parkinson disease without dementia.
Diagnosis
A doctor's evaluation
Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging
Doctors must determine whether a person has dementia and, if so, whether the dementia is dementia with Lewy bodies or Parkinson disease dementia.
Diagnosis of dementia
A diagnosis of dementia is based on the following:
Symptoms, which are identified by asking the person and family members or other caregivers questions
Results of a physical examination
Results of a mental status test
Results of additional tests, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
The mental status test Mental Status Testing 
, consisting of simple questions and tasks, helps doctors determine whether people have dementia.
Neuropsychologic testing, which is more detailed, is sometimes needed. This testing covers all the main areas of mental function, including mood, and usually takes 1 to 3 hours. This testing helps doctors distinguish dementia from age-associated memory impairment Dementia , mild cognitive impairment Dementia , and depression Dementia .
Information from the above sources helps doctors usually rule out delirium as the cause of symptoms (see table Comparing Delirium and Dementia Comparing Delirium and Dementia ). Doing so is essential because delirium, unlike dementia, can often be reversed if promptly treated.
Distinguishing delirium from dementia with Lewy bodies is particularly important because in both, mental function also fluctuates.
Diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia
Doctors base the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies on its characteristic symptoms. Dementia with Lewy bodies is likely if mental function fluctuates in people who have visual hallucinations and muscle and movement symptoms similar to those caused by Parkinson disease.
Computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to rule out other causes of dementia.
Other imaging tests may help doctors diagnose dementia with Lewy bodies. They include positron emission tomography Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of radionuclide scanning. A radionuclide is a radioactive form of an element, which means it is an unstable atom that becomes more stable by releasing... read more 
(PET) and single-photon emission CT Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) In radionuclide scanning, radionuclides are used to produce images. A radionuclide is a radioactive form of an element, which means it is an unstable atom that becomes more stable by releasing... read more (SPECT). These tests use a substance containing a radioactive tracer that, when injected into a vein, collects in a particular organ. A gamma-ray camera attached to a computer detects the radioactivity, and the computer produces an image of the organ being examined.
However, even after testing, distinguishing dementia with Lewy bodies from Parkinson disease dementia can be difficult because symptoms are similar:
Generally, dementia with Lewy bodies is more likely if movement and muscle problems develop at the same time or shortly after mental function starts to decline.
Parkinson disease dementia is more likely if mental decline occurs years after muscle and movement problems develop in people with Parkinson disease and if muscle and movement symptoms are more severe than mental impairment.
However, the diagnosis of these dementias can be confirmed definitively only when a sample of brain tissue is removed and examined under a microscope. This procedure is done after death during an autopsy.
Treatment
Safety and supportive measures
Medications used to treat Alzheimer disease
Treatment of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia involves general measures to provide safety and support, as for all dementias.
Medications may be used to improve mental function and lessen symptoms. If behavior becomes disruptive and is not controlled by supportive measures, medications Medications that help control disruptive behavior Dementia is a slow, progressive decline in mental function including memory, thinking, judgment, and the ability to learn. Typically, symptoms include memory loss, problems using language and... read more are sometimes used.
Safety and supportive measures
Creating a safe and supportive environment Creating a Beneficial Environment for People With Dementia can be very helpful.
Generally, the environment should be bright, cheerful, safe, stable, and designed to help with orientation. Some stimulation, such as a radio or television, is helpful, but excessive stimulation should be avoided.
Structure and routine help people stay oriented and give them a sense of security and stability. Any change in surroundings, routines, or caregivers should be explained to people clearly and simply.
Following a daily routine for tasks such as bathing, eating, and sleeping helps people with Alzheimer disease remember. Following a regular routine at bedtime may help them sleep better.
Activities scheduled on a regular basis can help people feel independent and needed by focusing their attention on pleasurable or useful tasks. Such activities should include physical and mental activities. Activities should be broken down in small parts or simplified as the dementia worsens.
Medications
The same medications used to treat Alzheimer disease Medications Alzheimer disease is a progressive loss of mental function, characterized by degeneration of brain tissue, including loss of nerve cells, the accumulation of an abnormal protein called beta-amyloid... read more , particularly rivastigmine, may be used to treat dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia. These medications may improve mental function.
Medications used to treat Parkinson disease Drugs Used to Treat Parkinson Disease may help relieve the symptoms of Parkinson disease (such as stiff muscles and tremor) in both dementias. However, in dementia with Lewy bodies, these medications may worsen confusion, hallucinations, and delusions.
Pimavanserin, an antipsychotic medication, can be used to treat hallucinations and delusions in people with Parkinson disease.
In dementia with Lewy bodies, older antipsychotic medications Types of Antipsychotic Drugs Psychosis refers to symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, and bizarre and inappropriate motor behavior that indicate loss of contact with reality. A number... read more tend to worsen muscle and movement symptoms and are best avoided. Newer antipsychotic medications, given in low doses, are preferred. However, newer antipsychotic medications, if used for a long time, may cause weight gain and abnormal fat (lipid) levels (hyperlipidemia Dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia is a high level of cholesterol and/or triglycerides or a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Lifestyle, genetics, disorders (such as low thyroid hormone levels... read more 
) and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high. Urination and thirst are... read more .
Care for caregivers
Caring for people with dementia is stressful and demanding, and caregivers may become depressed and exhausted, often neglecting their own mental and physical health. The following measures can help caregivers (see table Caring for Caregivers Caring for Caregivers ):
Learning about how to effectively meet the needs of people with dementia and what to expect from them: Caregivers can get this information from nurses, social workers, organizations, and published and online materials.
Seeking help when it is needed: Caregivers can talk to social workers (including those in the local community hospital) about appropriate sources of help, such as day-care programs, visits by home nurses, part-time or full-time housekeeping assistance, and live-in assistance. Counseling and support groups can also help.
Caring for self: Caregivers need to remember to take care of themselves. They should not given up their friends, hobbies, and activities.
End-of-life issues
Before people with dementia with Lewy bodies or Parkinson disease dementia become too incapacitated, decisions should be made about medical care, and financial and legal arrangements should be made. These arrangements are called advance directives Advance Directives Health care advance directives are legal documents that communicate a person’s wishes about health care decisions in the event the person becomes incapable of making health care decisions. There... read more . People should appoint a person who is legally authorized to make treatment decisions on their behalf (a health care proxy). They should discuss their health care wishes Treatment Options at the End of Life Often, the available choices for end-of-life care involve a decision whether to accept the likelihood of dying sooner but to be more comfortable or attempt to live slightly longer by receiving... read more with this person and their doctor. Such issues are best discussed with all concerned long before decisions are necessary.
As the dementia worsens, treatment tends to be directed at maintaining the person’s comfort rather than at attempting to prolong life.
More Information
The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.
Dementia.org: Information about the causes, symptoms, and treatments, of dementia with Lewy bodies.
Dementia.org: Information about the causes, symptoms, and treatments, of Parkinson disease and the dementia it can cause.
Health Direct: Dementia Video Series: General information about dementia, recommendations about the warning signs of dementia, treatment and research, and caring for a person with dementia. Also provides links to articles on similar topics.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's Dementia Information Page: Information about treatments and prognosis for people with dementia with Lewy bodies and links to clinical trials.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
rivastigmine |
Exelon, Exelon Patch |
pimavanserin |
NUPLAZID |
