In the United States of America, there are about 1.4 million people that are terminally ill with Lewy body dementia. Lewy body dementia is a unique disease that is distinguished by abnormal buildup up of alpha-synuclein a protein plaque in the brain which progressively affects memory, thinking, cognition, and movement (“What Is Lewy Body Dementia”, n.d.). Most of the people that get this disease are elderly individuals. Even though this disease is incurable, there are certain treatments that assist in treating the symptoms. Lewy body dementia is an interesting scientific topic that immensely affects a person’s and their family’s life.
Many diseases have factors that influence the likelihood of getting them, including Lewy body dementia. Although the etiology has not been found, there are certain components that seem to place individuals at risk. These factors include “being older than 60, being male, having a family member with Lewy body dementia or Parkinson's disease. Research has indicated that depression is also associated with Lewy body dementia” (“Lewy body dementia”, 2017). There are more older people diagnosed with Lewy body dementia than younger people, therefore the increase in age seemed to affect the likelihood of the disease. Also, there have been studies that showed more men in proportion to women who have Lewy body dementia. To continue, research has shown that “A small percentage of families with dementia with Lewy bodies have a genetic association, such as a variant of the GBA gene” (“Lewy Body Dementia: Hope Through Research”, n.d.). Therefore, having a family member with dementia is a risk factor for developing Lewy body dementia. Most of the components are considered risk factors, because they are seen to clinically affect the probability of a person developing Lewy body dementia. “However, some studies suggest that a healthy lifestyle— including regular exercise, mental stimulation, and a healthy diet— might reduce the chance of developing age-associated dementias” (“Lewy Body Dementia: Hope Through Research”, n.d.). Keeping your body physically healthy, by working out might decrease your chance of being personally affected by Lewy body dementia. Additionally, eating a well balanced nutritious meal with fruits, vegetables, proteins, diary, and whole grain is a step in the right direction to avoid Lewy body dementia. Making sure to continue to think through and use your brain by memorizing facts is a great way to continue making new neural connections and polishing older neuron pathways, which also assists in keeping the brain functioning properly. Majority of the risk factors for Lewy body dementia can not be changed, therefore keeping a healthy lifestyle is the best recommendation to prevent the disease.
Lewy body dementia affects different parts of the brain, which in turn manifests in symptoms. Lewy bodies are the tiny plaques of protein that develop. The cerebral cortex, limbic cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, brainstem, and olfactory pathways are brain regions that are affected by Lewy bodies (“What Is Lewy Body Dementia”, n.d.). The cerebral cortex is involved in higher level function, such as action and thought. Therefore cognition is affected, memory loss is seen, levels of alertness are altered, and ideas become disorganized. The limbic cortex is important for emotions, motivation, memory, and learning. The hippocampus is specifically involved with memory. Loss of memory is evident which affects normal function of a person. Lewy body dementia can alter the brain to a point where the person can forget how to tie their shoes and eventually they won’t know how to eat. Midbrain is involved in eye and motor movement and it helps in processing visual and auditory information. Olfactory pathways are involved with smell. Because the place where incoming information of vision, hearing, and smell is influenced hallucinations can occur, which are false sense disturbances. The brainstem is a point where information is exchanged between the body and the brain, and it controls when someone is sleeping and awake, which is altered in a Lewy body dementia. A person may end up being awake during the night and sleep instead during the day. Sleep disorders like insomnia may be manifested or acting out dreams, which is REM sleep behavior. “The most common symptoms include changes in cognition, movement, sleep, and behavior” (“Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia”, n.d.). Changes in movement can be seen that mimic Parkinson’s disease, where slumped posture, shaking, swallowing difficulties, walking by dragging feet, flat affect, and muscle stiffness and rigidity may be observed. Behavior changes are seen, because the limbic system is affected and different emotions can become evident such as irritability, anger, and frustration. These emotions may also arise from feeling that memory is lost. To add on memory loss affects sleep and the individual may start wandering at night. Distinguishment between night and day may be lost and sleep patterns are disturbed. Symptoms of Lewy body dementia can be seen as the brain is transformed.
Having a loved one struggling through Lewy body dementia is a difficult experience for caregivers. When a person starts to gradually decline in all spheres of human functioning a lot of assistance is needed. The caregiver often has to pick up lots of responsibility as the disease progresses. Some guidelines for a caregiver is to educate others about Lewy body dementia, prepare for emergencies, adjust expectations, make a peaceful routine, care for yourself, and address family concerns (“How to Care for a Person with Lewy Body Dementia”, n.d.). Educating friends and family around the individual increases awareness and understanding of what the person suffering Lewy body dementia is going through. Even nurses and doctors need to be informed of any sensitivities to medication or preferences by the patient to better treat them. To prepare for unexpected events such as illness copies of emergency numbers, medications, health insurance documents, and allergies should be made. Also the caregiver should be aware that because Lewy body dementia is a progressive disease, the client’s functionality gradually declines and every person is affected a little differently. Relationships between a sick mother and caregiver daughter will change and interactions between spouses are altered, the caregiver needs to be prepared to take on new roles. Quality of life is increased when there is a consistent calm routine, such as calm music and avoiding irritating circumstances such as large crowds. The care that a family member or caregiver provides to a sick individual depends on their own well being too. Therefore as a caregiver maintaining your health is a priority, because it affects how well you will provide care to the person with Lewy body dementia. Family is also a important part in providing care, because they should be involved and informed every step of the way for the best treatment. Addressing concerns and clarifying questions will result in a more quality in caregiving. Overall, caring for a person with Lewy body dementia includes responsibility and consistent communication between people to provide the best quality care.
Lewy body dementia is a frightening diagnosis that brings with it lots of change. Change that includes memory loss, a decrease in the quality of life, and a loss of independence for the individual. However, not only does the person suffer, but their loved ones and people who take care of them as well, because recognition of people close is altered too. Although the cause of Lewy body dementia is unknown keeping a healthy lifestyle is the only potentially changeable factor of lowering the risk. As the disease progresses, symptoms tend tend to worsen and past capabilities are lost, what may start as forgetfulness and progress to memory loss affecting a normal life. Eventually more people are involved taking on the responsibility of a caregiver. Caregiving is an important part to survive, therefore a caregiver needs to be educated and informed. Although no matter what effort of prevention is put in over time the disease progresses and changes a person from who they were. Judy Parfitt (n.d.) an English theatre, film and television actress once said, “Can I remember exactly when I 'lost' my husband? Was it the moment when I had to start tying his shoelaces for him? Or when we stopped being able to laugh with each other? Looking back, that turning point is impossible to pinpoint. But then, that's the nature of dementia.”