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Understanding 7 Stages of Lewy Body Dementia: A Complete Guide

Dementia is an umbrella term used to depict a variety of neurological conditions that worsen the brain over time. Every year, it affects millions of Americans, and according to a few researchers, the number is on the increasing verge. This calls for expanding the talks about this progressive disease and its different types.
In this article we will be helping you learn more about a specific form of dementia called Lewy Body Dementia. From understanding all about its stages to the symptoms for early detection we have covered everything here.
Lewy Body Dementia: What exactly is it?
Lewy Body dementia is caused when abnormal proteins start to deposit in the brain. Even after extensive studies, the reason behind this buildup is still unknown. These deposits decrease the chemicals like dopamine and acetylcholine(the feel-good chemicals) in an individual’s brain, creating issues in cognitive abilities.
Dopamine and acetylcholine are the two chemicals that are responsible for memory, thinking, and muscle movement. When these chemicals are depleted, the lewy body dementia stages begin to rise.
Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia affects the body and mind, which results in the following symptoms:
- Mood: People often start facing anxiety, delusion, irritability, restlessness, repetitive gestures, paranoia, and lack of interest in activities that they previously cherished.
- Thinking Skills: Start facing trouble with language or numbers, planning, organizing, remembering, or concentrating.
- Sleep: Some people sleep all through out the day, act out during sleep, have trouble staying or falling asleep.
- Motor Symptoms and Skills: Trouble Swallowing and speaking, stiffness in muscles,tremors, shaking limbs, loss of coordination, shuffling or walking at slower pace these are the possible motor symptoms that people face.
- Nervous System Issue: As the lewy body dementia stages progress, they tend to create issues in the nervous system, which result in unusual symptoms in muscles, glands, and the heart.
What are the 7 Stages of Lewy Body Dementia? Detail Explanation
After understanding the most common symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia, it’s better to go through the seven stages of the disease and see how it progresses:
Stage 1: No Issue
During the first lewy body dementia stages, there are no noticeable signs. There may be slight changes in the behavior, but it is not something that you should be worried about. Increased anxiety, sleeplessness, restlessness, and depression are a few of the issues that an individual might be facing. By proactively checking these issues, healthcare professionals can help the patient to improve the quality of their life.
Stage 2: Vey Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
In the second stage of dementia with lewy bodies symptoms, issue might enhance a bit such as forgetting names or have issues locating simple objects. Tasks which require a great deal of concentration might feel like a challenge.
Stage 3: Mild Cognitive Decline
During this stage, the dementia symptoms may start to become visible. Here, patients may become more frustrated and start turning emotional. Increased anxiety, apathy, and anxiety are a few other symptoms that are noticeable during this stage.
Stage 4: Moderate Cognitive Decline
At stage 4, a person may experience an extensive decline in cognitive ability. Others around them too start noticing these symptoms at this point. Such as they may find it difficult to dress on their own, bath, eat or may not be able to communicate with others. People suffering through these symptoms may start to feel a bit agitated, paranoid and confused. But they still have not lost their ability to identify their loved ones around this time.
Stage 5: Moderate to Severe Cognitive Decline
The stages of lewy body dementia start to grow from moderate to severe, and people start to experience significant memory loss during this stage. Severe confusion, disorientation, inability to perform simple tasks, and increased paranoia are a few of the issues that patients might feel in stage 5. Relying on caregivers becomes essential to create a loving and supportive environment.
Stage 6: Severe Decline
The severity of the disease become more pronounced and the person may not be able to communicate issues with their loved ones. This is the time when taking them to a senior living care facility becomes crucial. Without any help at this stage the person may not be able to even stand or sit by themselves. As there is still some sense of awareness left within the patient it’s crucial to provide them with comfort and care.
Stage 7: Very Severe Cognitive Decline
During the final stage, people suffer from significant cognitive and physical decline as the disease progresses. They may face complete memory loss and difficulty speaking. Confusion and decreased mobility may increase even further. However, with the help of the right senior living community, your loved one may experience a rich and rewarding life.
Key Takeaway
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is a form of dementia that affects around 5 million Americans every year. As the dementia with Lewy bodies symptoms are similar to the other types, it often gets misdiagnosed. So, make sure to consult an expert healthcare provider to get the appropriate support.
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