Lewy Body Dementia Explained
Lewy body dementia, often called LBD, is the second most common type of dementia that people develop as they age. It’s a serious brain condition that gets worse over time and affects how people think, move, behave, and sleep.
The condition gets its name from tiny clumps of protein that build up inside brain cells. These clumps are made of a protein called alpha-synuclein, and doctors call them Lewy bodies. When these abnormal deposits accumulate throughout different parts of the brain, they damage brain cells and cause the symptoms people experience.
Lewy body dementia actually refers to two closely related conditions. The first is dementia with Lewy bodies, or DLB, which primarily affects thinking and memory first. The second is Parkinson’s disease dementia, or PDD, which starts with movement problems and later develops into cognitive issues. In fact, about 75 to 80 percent of people who have Parkinson’s disease will eventually develop Lewy body dementia as their condition progresses.
The symptoms of Lewy body dementia are wide-ranging because the Lewy bodies can spread to many different areas of the brain. People often experience problems with thinking, memory, and attention. They may also have movement difficulties similar to Parkinson’s disease, including tremors and stiffness. Many people with LBD experience changes in behavior and mood, and they frequently have sleep disturbances. Some people also develop psychosis, which means they might see things that aren’t there or have false beliefs.
What makes Lewy body dementia particularly challenging is that it’s progressive, meaning it gets worse over time. The brain gradually shrinks and loses function as more Lewy bodies accumulate. This progressive nature means that symptoms tend to worsen and new symptoms may develop as the disease advances.
Recent research has uncovered important information about what might trigger or speed up Lewy body dementia. Scientists studied over 56 million Americans and found a connection between air pollution and the development of LBD. Specifically, they identified fine particles in the air called PM2.5 as a risk factor. When researchers exposed mice to long-term PM2.5 pollution, the animals developed brain shrinkage and cognitive problems. Interestingly, this didn’t happen in mice that were genetically engineered to lack the alpha-synuclein protein, which suggests that air pollution may work by affecting this specific protein in the brain.
Understanding what causes Lewy body dementia is important because it helps doctors and researchers find ways to prevent or slow the disease. The discovery that air pollution plays a role means that reducing exposure to polluted air could be one way to protect brain health. Other steps that may help include regular exercise, getting quality sleep, and staying engaged with medical care.
Sources
https://www.parkinson.org/blog/science-news/air-pollution-lewy-body
https://www.droracle.ai/articles/428560/what-is-lest-body-dementia
https://clinicaltrials.eu/disease/dementia-with-lewy-bodies/
