This is the second in a four-part series to help shed light on this commonly misdiagnosed form of dementia.
As we covered in our first post, learning to recognize the symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia and distinguish them from other diseases is the key to getting the correct diagnosis. Let’s go over the most common symptoms. If these sound familiar, make sure you discuss the possibility of Lewy Body Dementia with a physician. There is a printable symptom checklist at the end of this post that you can take with you to your appointment.
The Lewy Body Dementia Association states that dementia PLUS any one of the following can be a strong indication of the disease:
- Fluctuating cognition with pronounced variations in attention and alertness
- Recurrent visual hallucinations
- Spontaneous features of Parkinson’s Disease
- REM sleep behavior disorder, such as acting out dreams
- Severe sensitivity to antipsychotic medications
In addition, these symptoms can also support a diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia:
- Repeated falls due to fainting/passing out
- Transient, unexplained loss of consciousness
- Severe autonomic dysfunction (incontinence or low blood pressure, for example)
- Hallucinations that affect other senses such as smell and taste
- Systematized delusions
- Depression
In summary, look for Parkinson-like physical symptoms coupled WITH these above symptoms. If there is a diagnosis of Parkinson’s quickly followed by any of these symptoms or behaviors within a year, please speak with a physician for a reassessment so that the correct course of therapy and medications can be ordered.
DOWNLOAD: Lewy Body Diagnostic Symptom Checklist from the Lewy Body Dementia Association
