LBDA Webinar: Living with LBD: The Firsthand Perspective aired yesterday and can now be viewed on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jecDrlVzzcA. The goal of the webinar was to share information about Lewy body dementia, the form of dementia that is most common with Parkinson's (PD) patients.
LBD is the second most prevalent form of dementia (after Alzheimer's). While there are similarities to AZ, there are also significant differences. Cognition issues including dementia are one of the PD non-motor symptoms that are often more problematic for patients than the better-known motor symptoms. For most PWPs (persons with Parkinson's), relatively mild cognition symptoms can be experienced early in the disease. These symptoms remain mild for some, but others it progresses to a condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that is characterized by issues such as impaired executive function and working memory, problems with multi-tasking, slower processing and retrieval of information, impaired concentration and problem solving. These symptoms can improve or remain the same, but for many they progress to the point where they are interfering with activities of daily living (dementia). In some cases, more advanced symptoms start around the same time or earlier than motor symptoms, which is dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). More often, these advanced symptoms start a year or more after onset of motor symptoms, which is Parkinson disease dementia (PDD).
Linda and I participated to provide feedback regarding the ramifications of my having an MCI diagnosis in conjunction with PD. Another couple provided the perspective of his LBD diagnosis, including the difficulties encountered in getting an accurate diagnosis.
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