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Iconic actor Sir Patrick Stewart died on Wednesday (28 October) at the age of 86, following what his spokesperson called a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”.
Lewy body dementia, also referred to as dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), is a common form of dementia that is estimated to affect around 100,000 people in the UK. Records show that around 5 per cent of people diagnosed with dementia have the specific condition, but scientists argue that DLB is under-diagnosed, and the true figure may be as high as 20 per cent.
Awareness of the condition rose after the 2014 death of comedian-actor Robin Williams, who was posthumously diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.
It typically affects older people, and cases in people under the age of 65 are rare.
Per the NHS website, symptoms of Lewy body dementia include visual and auditory hallucinations – “seeing, hearing or smelling things that are not there”.
People with DLB often have issues with understanding, memory, and judgement; symptoms that echo those of Alzheimer’s disease.
Other symptoms include sudden confusion or sleepiness, slow movement, tremors, disturbed sleep, “often with violent movements and shouting out”, fainting spells, lack of physical balance, as well as depression and anxiety.
The condition is caused by deposits of protein forming inside brain cells, known as Lewy bodies.
The vast majority of people with Lewy body dementia have what is known as the “sporadic” form, in which the primary cause of these deposits cannot be diagnosed. The causes of DLB are also typically impossible to pin down, with evidence suggesting it is unrelated to lifestyle. There may, in some instances, be a genetic factor.
There is no cure for Lewy body dementia, but there are a number of ameliorating treatments, including: medication to reduce the symptoms, and psychological, speech, and physical therapies.
DLB is a progressive and degenerative condition, though the rate at which the condition worsens can vary from person to person. After a diagnosis, the average survival time is estimated to be five to seven years, though can be far longer.
Alzheimer’s, meanwhile, is a progressive brain condition that affects an estimated one in 14 people over the age of 65, and one in every six over the age of 80. When the condition develops in someone younger than 65, it is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Like DLB, Alzheimer’s is a progressive condition that typically manifests first as minor memory problems.
More advanced symptoms include confusion and disorientation, difficulty planning or making decisions, problems with speech and language, problems with moving and performing your routine independently, behavioural and mood changes, paranoia, and hallucinations. Depression and anxiety also frequently occur in people with Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is described by the NHS as a “life-limiting illness”, and it can eventually cause problems swallowing, which leads to frequent chest infections and difficulty eating.
The lifespan and rate of degeneration for people with Alzheimer’s varies from person to person.
The NHS recommends a number of lifestyle measures to help reduce the risk or delay the onset of dementia, including stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, adhering to a healthy diet, and staying physically fit.
Anyone struggling with memory loss is recommended to see a doctor.
