Knowing the signs of Lewy body dementia may help speed diagnosis
Melissa J. Armstrong, University of Florida Lewy body dementia reached the public eye in 2014 after reports that Robin Williams died with diffuse Lewy body disease . But, despite the fact that Lewy body dementia is the second most common dementia , it remains frequently unrecognized. In one study, almost 70 percent of people diagnosed with Lewy body dementia saw three consultants before receiving the diagnosis. For a third of people with the disease, getting the correct diagnosis took more than two years . October is Lewy Body Dementia Awareness Month. As a physician specializing in Lewy body dementia, I often hear patients and families describe delays in getting a diagnosis. It doesn’t have to be this way. Awareness is critical, particularly as new opportunities emerge for diagnosis and treatment. What is Lewy body dementia? The word “dementia” describes a condition affecting a person’s memory and thinking that is a decline from how he or she used to funct...