Lewy Body Dementia vs. Alzheimer's: A Quick Comparison

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Alnicor Consulting
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Lewy Body Dementia vs. Alzheimer's A Quick
Comparison
There may be misunderstanding among individuals
because Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer's
share some symptoms. But it is true that both of
these illnesses are very prevalent, and a person
with either of them may notice differences in how
their brain functions. Symptoms like physical,
behavioural, or cognitive alterations can be
present as a result of these changes.
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)
It is a condition where abnormal protein deposits
can be seen in the brain. Alpha-synuclein is a
unique protein, and Lewy bodies are the
aggregates that it forms. They alter the
molecules in the brain, which can further cause
problems with thinking, acting, feeling, and
moving. Dementia is often brought on by LBD.
LBD typically affects older persons and affects
over a million people in the US. It is uncommon
to see it in children, but that doesn't mean it
can't happen to them. Additionally, LBD does not
shield the brain from developing other conditions.
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This illness progresses, which means it begins
gradually and grows worse over time. Early signs
are typically minor, and at this point, people
can still go about their daily lives normally.
Later phases may be more severe and impair a
person's capacity for thought and movement. They
eventually have to depend on others for their
care and support.
Alzheimers Disease
It is a neurological condition that can prevent
one's memory and thought processes from operating
normally. Eventually, the patient won't be able
to perform even the most fundamental tasks or
activities. Usually, it can happen at any stage
of existence. Both early and late onset signs
apply to these. The disease is more prevalent in
older adults (60 years of age or older) who
exhibit late-onset symptoms. People between the
ages of 30 and 60 can experience early starts,
which is extremely uncommon.
Alzheimer's disease is named for Dr. Alois
Alzheimer. He was the first to identify the
alterations in brain structure brought on by an
unusual mental disorder. She displayed memory
loss, speech issues, and unpredictable behaviour.
When he examined her brain, he discovered odd
clusters and tangled fibre bundles. These are
some of the characteristics of Alzheimer's that
are still prevalent today.
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Is There a Connection Between Alzheimer's Disease
and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)?
Lewy body dementia vs Alzheimer's disease are
prevalent forms of dementia that can impair
anyone's brain functioning. However, there are
minor variations in the symptoms, the age at
which they first appear, the underlying reasons,
etc.
Using the following characteristics, let's
analyse the differences.
Causes
There isn't a known reason for LBD as of yet.
Genetic, environmental, or lifestyle variables
can all contribute to Alzheimer's disease. Both
of these conditions are typical in older
individuals, but LBD carries a risk of
cardiovascular disease, head injury, and REM
sleep disorders, whereas Alzheimer's carries a
risk of these conditions and others.
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Symptoms
LBD can alter a person's way of thinking and
reasoning, as well as cause different levels of
confusion and alertness throughout the day. In
addition, the patient may have dreams and develop
delusions. Your slumber may also be disturbed.
Patients with Alzheimer's frequently ask the same
questions, and the disease can result in memory
loss that is worse than LBD. While the patient is
roaming, there is a high likelihood of losing
sight of them. Since memory loss is more common,
it is easier to lose things. Additionally, mood
or personality shifts are visible. Other typical
signs of Alzheimer's disease include anxiety,
hostility, and trouble making decisions.
Initial Age
LBD typically manifests between the ages of 50
and 85, whereas Alzheimer's typically manifests
between the ages of 60 and 70. Also sooner is
possible.
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Treatment
Although there is no cure for LBD, lifestyle
modifications, medication, and therapy can help
manage symptoms and slow the disease's
progression. The same holds true for Alzheimer's
disease.
Diagnosis Of LBD And Alzheimers
Before making a diagnosis for LBD and
Alzheimer's, physicians typically look for early
warning signs and symptoms. They would be on the
lookout for behavioural changes, a progressive
decline in cognitive function, difficulties
carrying out everyday tasks, issues with spatial
thinking and reasoning, etc.
They proceed to diagnose the problem after
verifying the situation and determining the
initial symptoms. There are several methods to
diagnose LBD and Alzheimer's.
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LBD Diagnosis
It's important to understand that Lewy body
dementia cannot be diagnosed with a single test.
For the most part, a diagnosis is made based on
the indications and symptoms. In addition, the
physician can make a note of any additional
medical conditions that may present with
comparable signs and symptoms. A determination
could be made using the following tests
Examination of mental and physical health
The doctor can examine you for tumours,
Parkinson's disease, or any other illness that
might have an impact on how your body and brain
work. These tests look for issues with walking
straight or keeping balance, slowing of reflexes,
changes in body strength, etc., and then provide
results following a thorough examination.
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Mental evaluation
These tests don't require a particular location
and last for about 10-15 minutes. Doctors
evaluate a patient's mental capacity by asking
them to ponder and reason. However, since this
test only detects cognitive impairment, it
typically cannot differentiate between LBD and
Alzheimer's. Longer tests may be useful for
detecting LBD.
Brain Scans
A CT or MRI scan can be recommended by the doctor
in order to rule out the potential of a tumour or
to assist in recognising a stroke. Even though
clinicians mostly rely on physical examinations
and medical histories to make the diagnosis of
dementia, some imaging tests can help identify
the specific type. It could be LBD or Alzheimer's.
The doctor may also suggest additional imaging
studies to help detect Lewy body dementia if the
diagnosis is unclear. These extra examinations
may include single-photon emission computerised
tomography or a fluorodeoxyglucose PET brain scan.
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Sleep Check
The doctor may advise a sleep evaluation to check
for REM sleep problems. The examination is called
a polysomnogram.
Alzheimers Diagnosis
Alzheimer's disease can be identified in a
variety of ways. An examination by a doctor can
frequently aid in identification. In order to
better comprehend the situation, the doctor may
also encourage friends or family members to
adjust their behaviour. Following that, they
proceed with the diagnosis, utilising the
following tests
Testing Mental Status
Using a mental health assessment, doctors can
determine the disorder. Your memory and cognitive
abilities will be evaluated through the tests
that they administer. The results of these exams
are then used to grade how well the brain is
functioning.
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Depression may also be identified as a
contributing factor to the symptoms in these
evaluations.      
Neuropsychological Tests
The purpose of these tests is to evaluate a
person's cerebral and cognitive abilities. They
are much more in-depth and contain numerous exams
that assess memory and cognitive abilities. The
ability of your brain to operate normally can be
ascertained by doctors, who can also inform you
of the tasks that patients are still capable of
performing.
Depression may also be identified as a
contributing factor to the symptoms in these
evaluations
Lab Tests
Many laboratory tests are available to help rule
out symptoms of other diseases that are
comparable to Alzheimer's, such as thyroid
problems or a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Cerebrospinal fluid tests may also be suggested
by the physician to aid in the evaluation. It
counts the amount of tau and amyloid proteins in
the cerebrospinal fluid. The amount of these
proteins can aid in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
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Brain Imaging Tests
Brain scans of different types can show the
degeneration of brain cells brought on by
Alzheimer's. Brain images, however, might not be
sufficient on their own to identify the illness.
This is due to the possibility that scan data may
overlap with what medical professionals perceive
to be a typical age-related change.
Brain imaging can be useful in this situation
because it can rule out similar causes and
differentiate between different kinds of brain
diseases. Several of the tools that are on hand
for brain imaging include

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• Computerized Tomography (CT)

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

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