Glossary

What is Lewy body dementia?

Lewy body dementia is a dementia marked by fluctuating alertness, visual hallucinations, movement problems like those of Parkinson's disease, and acting out dreams during sleep.

Memory may be relatively preserved early on. A distinctive feature is that some antipsychotic drugs can cause severe reactions, so the diagnosis matters for medication safety.

It is frequently mistaken for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's at first.

Why it matters

Caregivers need to know about the drug sensitivity and the hallucinations, which are usually not frightening to the person unless they are argued with.

Further reading: Lewy Body Dementia Association

Lewy body dementia where you live

The local guide on this, for each city we cover.

Related terms

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