Fran Vandelli, Bupa Care Services' head of dementia, explained that dementia describes a set of symptoms that affect your brain, causing problems with memory, thinking and communication, resulting in the loss of skills needed for everyday life. She said that there are many different types of dementia that can have different symptoms and affect people differently.
“In Lewy body dementia, tiny clumps of a protein known as Lewy bodies build up in nerve cells in the brain, which can cause symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations, difficulty moving, or sleep disturbances. People with body dementia may have motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, as well as symptoms of memory loss and confusion.”
It is important to remember that no two people will experience dementia in exactly the same way, but some symptoms of Lewy body dementia are similar to other types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, while others are more specific.
These symptoms include
b>a sudden change in attention and alertness.
“Someone with dementia with Lewy bodies may suddenly pass out or turn off” and become silent and unresponsive for several minutes.” b>
Fran also said that some people with Lewy body dementia can see things that aren't there.
Other people with this type of dementia often have restless, disturbed sleep. They often have vivid dreams and may trigger or act out their dreams in their sleep.
If you are concerned that a loved one is experiencing symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies, it is important to talk to your GP.
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Fran Vandelli Health Head of Bupa Care Services for Dementia.