Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a common kind of dementia, second only in prevalence only to Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Though it is common, many family caregivers know little, if anything, about the disease when they learn an older family member has been diagnosed with it.<\/p>\n
An Overview of LBD<\/strong><\/p>\n LBD is characterized by protein clusters that develop in the older adult\u2019s brain. These protein clusters are called Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies form in nerve cells in parts of the brain that are responsible for memory and thinking. The damage caused by the disease is progressive, which means the senior\u2019s cognitive abilities will decline over time.<\/p>\n The protein that is involved in LBD is the same kind that appears in people who have Parkinson\u2019s disease. As a result, people with LBD have some of the same physical symptoms that appear with Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n What causes a person\u2019s brain to develop Lewy bodies isn\u2019t entirely clear. However, doctors have identified some things that make the chances of getting LBD higher, such as:<\/p>\n LBD Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n LBD symptoms are not the same in all people. However, some of the common symptoms of LBD include:<\/p>\n\n