Table of ContentsIntroductionDementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)Alzheimer's DiseaseIntroductionAlzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are two distinct but similar conditions. Alzheimer's disease affects the brain's ability to store new information in the form of memories, which explains the memory loss characteristic of this disease. DLB, on the other hand, targets a different set of cognitive functions, including problem solving and reasoning. Although there are tests that can be performed to more conclusively determine the presence of these diseases, in general, Alzheimer's disease and DLB are diagnosed by observing and monitoring the progression of symptoms. an individual. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayDementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a progressive type of dementia that causes decline of thought and reasoning and independent function. DLB is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of proteins in deposits called Lewy bodies. This protein is also associated with Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's dementia. People who have Lewy bodies in the brain often have plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease. Plaques and tangles are prime suspects for cell death and tissue loss in the Alzheimer's brain. Plaques are abnormal clumps of chemically “sticky” proteins called beta-amyloid that build up between nerve cells. Symptoms of DLB ​​include: Changes in thinking and reasoning. Confusion and alertness that vary greatly from one time of day to the next or from one day to the next. Parkinson's disease. symptoms, such as a stooped posture, balance problems, and stiff muscles. Visual hallucinations. Delusions. Difficulty interpreting visual information. Acting out dreams, sometimes violently, is a problem known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disorder. be significant but less important than in Alzheimer's disease. DiagnosisAs with other types of dementia, there is no single, conclusive test to diagnose Lewy body dementia. Currently, DLB is a clinical diagnosis, meaning it represents a doctor's best professional judgment about the reason for a person's symptoms. The only way to conclusively diagnose DLB is to perform a postmortem autopsy. Experts widely believe that DLB and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) are two different expressions of the same underlying problems related to the brain's processing of the alpha-synuclein protein. But most experts recommend continuing to diagnose DLB and Parkinson's dementia as separate disorders. DLB will be diagnosed when: dementia symptoms consistent with DLB develop first when dementia and movement symptoms are present at diagnosis when dementia symptoms appear one year after movement symptoms. diagnosed when: A person is initially diagnosed with Parkinson's disease based on movement symptoms, but dementia symptoms do not appear until a year or more later. No specific cause of DLB ​​has been identified. The majority of people diagnosed with DLB have no family history of the disease and no genetic link to DLB has been conclusively identified. Prognosis: DLB has no cure and there are no existing treatments that can slow or prevent cell damagebrain damage caused by DLB; it is a progressive disease that shortens life. Current strategies focus on the use of medications to help relieve/manage symptoms. Because Lewy bodies tend to coexist with the brain changes of Alzheimer's disease, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish DLB from Alzheimer's disease, especially in the early stages. Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause. of dementia. The word dementia describes a group of symptoms that can include memory loss and difficulty thinking, problem solving, or language. These symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. proteins build up in the brain to form structures called “plaques” and “tangles.” This leads to loss of connections between nerve cells, and ultimately to nerve cell death and loss of brain tissue. People with Alzheimer's disease also experience a shortage of certain important chemicals in their brain. These chemical messengers help transmit signals in the brain. When there is a shortage, signals are not transmitted as effectively. As discussed below, current treatments for Alzheimer's disease may help increase levels of chemical messengers in the brain, which may alleviate some symptoms. Symptoms Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease progress slowly over several years. Sometimes these symptoms are confused with other conditions and may initially be attributed to old age. The speed at which symptoms progress is different for each individual and it is not possible to predict exactly how quickly it will get worse. In some cases, infections, medications, strokes or delirium may be responsible for worsening symptoms. Generally, the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are divided into three main stages.Early symptomsIn the early stages, the main symptom of Alzheimer's disease is memory loss. For example, a person with early-stage Alzheimer's disease may: forget recent conversations or events, or misplace objects, forget the names of places and objects, or have difficulty finding the right word, repeating yourself regularly, for example by asking the same question several times, showing poor judgment or having more difficulty making decisions becoming less flexible and more hesitant to try new thingsThere are often signs of changes mood, such as increased anxiety or agitation, or periods of confusion. Mid-Stage Symptoms As Alzheimer's disease develops, memory problems become worse. A person with this condition may find it increasingly difficult to remember the names of people they know and may have difficulty recognizing family and friends. Other symptoms may also develop, such as: increasing confusion and disorientation - for example, getting lost or wandering and not knowing what time of day it is obsessive, repetitive or impulsive behavior delusions (believing things things that are not true) or feeling paranoia and suspicion of caregivers or family members speech or language problems (aphasia) sleep problems mood changes, such as frequent mood swings mood swings, depression, and feeling increasingly anxious, frustrated, or agitated difficulty performing spatial tasks, such as judging distances hallucinations At this stage, a person with Alzheimer's disease usually needs support to help them in his.