What Are 7 Stages Of Lewy Body Dementia?

Mainly, there are two types of Lewy Body Dementia. Those are dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. In both of those disorders, you are going to have problems with your body movements.

Lewy Body Dementia is such a progressive disease that has no cure. The patient has to go through different stages and eventually, it leads the patient to death. Those stages are categorized into 7 different stages. Those 7 stages of Lewy Body Dementia keep making the condition from bad to worse. Though there is no permanent treatment, with proper care and a supportive environment the patient can survive for many years.

What Is Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)?

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is a disease associated with the thinking, movement, and behavior of a person. It usually affects older people who are aged 50+. In the United States, there are around more than 1.4 million people living with this neurological disorder. The disease is caused by the clumps of protein in the brain. That negatively affects the entire body's performance. It also has an impact on the memory.

Types of Lewy Body Dementia

Mainly, there are two types of Lewy Body Dementia. Those are dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. In both of those disorders, you are going to have problems with your body movements.

1. Dementia With Lewy Bodies

In Dementia with Lewy Bodies, it will be difficult for you to make any body movement at the initial stage. Later on, it will affect the thinking ability and memories. You may also experience hallucinations. This symptom is similar to the Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

This is another type of Lewy Body Dementia that starts with a similar body movement problem. Later on, it affects the memories. In this type, it will take a much longer time to have memory problems compared to the previous type. It will have a negative effect on the cognitive function after a while.

What Are 7 Stages Of Lewy Body Dementia?

Lewy Body Dementia is divided into 7 stages based on its severity. As the stages get higher, the condition of the patient gets worse. But it’s not always going to affect the patient gradually one stage after another. Sometimes patients may face the symptoms in random order. LBD is a disease that gets worse or spreads in the body over time. So, if you find any of those symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately.

Stage 1: Initial Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia

Stage 2: Very Gentle Decline In Cognitive Abilities

Stage 3: Mild Decline in Cognitive Abilities

Stage 4: Moderate Dementia With Cognitive Decline

Stage 5: Moderately Severe Dementia With Cognitive Decline

Stage 6: Extreme Dementia With Cognitive Decline

Stage 7: End Stage Dementia

Stage 1: Initial Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia
The initial symptoms of LBD are the toughest to identify. Basically, it gets started with some changes in the behavior like feeling depressed, anxiety, and problems with decision-making. Sometimes, it also affects the sleep cycle. It will be difficult for the patient to fall asleep in a timely manner. Also, it could be difficult to remember any recent memories.

Stage 2: Very Gentle Decline In Cognitive Abilities
In the 2nd stage of Lewy Body Dementia, there will be problems with cognitive abilities. It will be very difficult for the patient in this stage to concentrate on something. At the same time, they will start getting more confused even about something very simple. The support of another person is not mandatory in this case but you should consult a doctor to slow down the process.

Stage 3: Mild Decline in Cognitive Abilities
In the 3rd stage of Lewy Body Dementia, there will be notable changes in the patient’s behavior. The person with Lewy Body Dementia will feel anxiety, tension, stress, and depression. It can be really default to continue daily activities without anyone’s assistance. Particularly, multitasking will be very difficult for the person. That may make the person even more frustrated.

Stage 4: Moderate Dementia With Cognitive Decline
The 4th stage is known as the moderate dementia. The condition of cognitive abilities will get even worse at this stage. Tasks like problem-solving, eating, bathing, and other regular activities will be difficult to do. Providing good mental support is essential is this stage. The person will feel confused and frustrated. That’s why the family members should treat the patient nicely.

Stage 5: Moderately Severe Dementia With Cognitive Decline
As the stages progresses, the condition gets tougher and tougher for the patient. In the 5th stage, it will be difficult for the person with Lewy Body Dementia to communicate with the family members. It will be absolutely challenging to continue doing the regular activities. The person may even struggle to recognize friends and family members. Care and a good supportive environment are most needed.

Stage 6: Extreme Dementia With Cognitive Decline
In the 6th stage, the patient won’t be able to communicate or have any meaningful conversations. They won’t be able to continue their regular activities. The patient will be totally dependent on others. Activities like walking and sitting would be difficult without any support. The behavior of the patient will be aggressive. The person may experience some hallucinations. They can still feel joy and comfort at this stage. That’s why family members should provide love and care.

Stage 7: End Stage Dementia
This is the end stage of Lewy Body Dementia. The condition of the patient will get worse in this stage. But still patient can live for many years if he gets proper care and a supportive environment. As there will be aggressive changes in the patient’s behavior and he becomes totally unable to do regular activities, it gets difficult for the family members to treat him with support and care. The person would lose his memory completely and won’t be able to speak properly.

How To Live With Lewy Body Dementia?

Though there’s no cure for LBD, patients can still survive for many years when proper care is taken. So, how to live with Lewy Body Dementia? You have to follow some positive habits and follow the instructions of your doctor. It will help you to live for many years and fight this fatal disease.

1. Create A Supportive Environment

First of all, you have to create a supportive environment for yourself. You have to inform your friends and families about your condition. Then, they will be able to understand and adjust to your behavior. When you let everyone know about your condition and accept their assistance, it will make you feel better.

2. Follow Doctors Advise

When you are suffering from Lewy Body Dementia, you have to keep connected with your doctor until you have cognitive abilities. Following the doctor’s advice will slow down the disease from getting worse. Also, you should think about the safety issues that you may need help in the future. You have to implement the necessary steps to ensure that safety.

3. Plan For The Future

If everything goes well, you may live up to 20 years more. Therefore, you have to plan for the future. Gradually, you are going to lose your movement power and cognitive abilities. You have to take steps to make the situation easier for you at that period. You can talk to your family members and inform them about the type of assistance you may need from them. It will keep you and your family members prepared for the situation.

4. Enjoy Your Life

The best way to live with Lewy Body Dementia is to accept the disease and enjoy your life. It was not in your hands and there is nothing to do to get a permanent cure. You have to accept it and try to stay happy as much as you can. Count each day as a blessing for you. Spend time with your friends and families and share your good memories.

How Common Is LBD?

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is a common disease in the United States. More than 1 million Americans are currently affected with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). Most of the patients are older than 50 years. In some rare cases, younger people can also have this disorder. The LBD is one of the most common dementias in the United States and other European countries. Dementia is more common in men than women.

Is Lewy Body Dementia Genetic?

No, the Lewy Body Dementia is not genetic. But if your family member has this disease, it will increase the chance of this disorder. However, there is no such surety that having a family member with this disease will cause the disease for other family members. The exact cause of this dementia is still unknown. So, there is no conclusive evidence to declare Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) genetic.

What Are Lewy Body Dementia Causes?

Lewy Body Dementia or LBD is caused by the Lewy Body disease. It is caused by appearing small clumps of proteins in the cells of the brain. The protein clumps are called alpha-synuclein. It attacks the nerve cells. That’s why it gets difficult for the patient to do their regular activities and make any decisions. The disorder was first identified by a German doctor FH Lewy. According to his name, this is known as Lewy Body Dementia.

Risk Factors Of Lewy Body Dementia

Age is the biggest risk factor for Lewy Body Dementia. Lewy body dementia (LBD) is mostly common in older people with 50+ age. Apart from that, people who are suffering from Parkinson's disease and REM sleep behavior disorder have a higher risk of LBD. People who have a family history of LBD have greater risk has higher risk than others. But it is not certain to happen for genetic reasons.

What Are The First Signs Of Lewy Body Dementia?

There are two types of Lewy Body Dementia. In both cases, the first sign of Lewy Body Dementia is facing difficulties with physical movement. Another common sign is changes in the behavior with anxiety and depression. Some patients also experience hallucinations. Almost all patients find it challenging to do regular activities such as walking or sitting.

How Is Lewy Body Dementia Diagnosed?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive test to diagnose Lewy Body Dementia when the patient is living. A brain autopsy can confirm the disorder which is not possible while living. But there are several diagnoses, that give doctors the idea to identify Lewy Body Dementia. Positron emission tomography (PET), Single-photon emission computed tomography, and dopamine transporter (DAT) are some common diagnosis processes to identify the LBD. Doctors also prefer to study sleeping behavior to confirm it.

Treatments For Lewy Body Dementia
There is no permanent treatment available to get rid of Lewy Body Dementia completely. However, there are some medications targeting to minimize specific syndromes of the diseases. Cholinesterase inhibitors are used to treat Lewy Body Dementia by improving the chemical messenger’s level.

It’s important to improve cognitive abilities. Carbidopa-levodopa medicines are used to treat physical movement problems. There are some side effects of those medications. That’s why you must consult with a doctor before you start taking any medicines for Lewy Body Dementia.

How Long Someone Can Live With Lewy Body Dementia?

Most of the patients can survive around 5 to 7 years after getting affected with Lewy Body Dementia. The timespan can get higher or lower based on the patient's condition and treatments. By taking proper care and following a healthy lifestyle, patients with Lewy Body Dementia can survive for around 20 years. Identifying the LBD is not instantly fatal.

The Lewy Body Dementia is not the immediate death sentence for the patient. But unfortunately, it will eventually lead to death. If you notice any of the above symptoms in yourself or your family members, you should immediately consult a doctor and follow a diagnosis. Early identification, proper care, following doctors’ advice, and a good supportive environment will help the patient to live for many years.

FAQ

How fast can Lewy body dementia progress?

A. Lewy body dementia is a progressive disease. On average, it will take around 5 to years to lead the patient to death. Early identification and proper care can expand the lifespan to around 20 years.

What is the dying process with Lewy body dementia?

A. Reduced swallowing ability and heart failure along with the inability to move or even sit upright is the most common dying process with Lewy Body Dementia.

Is Lewy body the worst dementia?

A. Lewy Body Dementia Is such a dementia that can cause Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Besides, there’s no treatment for that. So, Lewy Body is one of the worst dementias.

What is the best treatment for Lewy body dementia?

A. There are no such treatments to cure Lewy Body Dementia. But there are some procedures to delay the disease's progress. Rivastigmine (Exelon), Donepezil (Aricept, Adlarity), and Galantamine (Razadyne ER) are some effective medications used in LBD to improve thinking ability.