Doctors called the first symptom of dementia

< /p> 0

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is different from other types of progressive dementia, and its symptoms can mimic other diseases and disorders. It most often occurs in adults over the age of 50, so it is important to know about the signs and monitor them in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from developing the disease.

One such symptom is visual hallucinations. They occur more often in people with dementia with Lewy bodies than in people with Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia, and generally begin earlier than in other types of dementia.

In fact, up to 80% experience this symptom people with LBD. “In general, hallucinations caused by LBD are vivid and usually visual rather than auditory. Dementia with Lewy bodies differs from other forms of dementia in that most cases in the early stages are not associated with memory loss,” the doctors said.

The disease causes changes in the nervous system that can lead to changes in behavior and mood. Some studies have found a correlation between the presence of hallucinations and an increased level of cognitive impairment in this type of dementia. Doctors warn that in this case it is best to be careful when communicating with the patient, as he may “take you for a hallucination and show aggression”.

Other signs of LBD include movement disorders, difficulty sleeping, cognitive problems, depression and apathy. Diagnosing LBD can be challenging, according to experts at the National Institute of Aging.

“Early symptoms of dementia with Lewy calves are often confused with similar symptoms found in other brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, or in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia,” they said.

In addition, dementia with Lewy bodies can occur on its own or in conjunction with other brain diseases. There are two diagnoses: LBD dementia with Lewy bodies per se and dementia with Parkinson's disease. The earliest signs differ, but reflect the same biological changes in the brain, the doctors emphasized.