Causes And Risk Factors For Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia is the second most common type of dementia, affecting more than one million individuals in the United States each year. The disease typically causes a decline in a person's mental state and is caused by an excessive accumulation of protein into deposits called Lewy bodies. It commonly affects individuals over fifty years old and has been found to be related to other diseases and health conditions. Researchers have found there may be a common link between Lewy body and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Considering the symptoms of the three diseases (confusion, muscle rigidness, visual hallucinations, and tremors) are very similar, it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose Lewy body disease.
Association With Parkinson's Disease
Lewy body disease has an association with Parkinson's disease due to the fact the proteins found in individuals with Lewy body dementia are also found in individuals who have Parkinson's disease. Although most individuals suffering from Parkinson's exhibit Lewy bodies in their brain, it is not an indicator they will eventually develop Lewy body dementia. The most common symptom between the two is the fact with both diseases, most patients will experience some form of dementia. It should be noted the type of dementia experienced is different in Parkinson's patients and Lewy body patients, with Parkinson's patients experiencing dementia later in their disease, precluded by a loss in motor functions, while Lewy body disease patients will experience the inverse effect.
Continue reading to reveal the major connection to Alzheimer's.
Association With Alzheimer's Disease
Lewy body dementia also has an association with Alzheimer's disease for the same reason it has an association with Parkinson's. Lewy bodies are also found in patients with Alzheimer's. Again, it is important to note the presence of Lewy bodies in the brain does not guarantee an individual will develop Lewy body disease. However, researchers have theorized the symptom overlap, and other brain abnormalities apparent in all three diseases can be attributed to how the brain processes (or its inability to process) the protein alpha-synuclein. Brain scans have shown individuals with Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's all have plaques and tangles within their brains.
Continue reading to learn about the link with age.
Age
Age is considered the greatest risk factor for Lewy body disease, as it is more likely to affect individuals over fifty. The average onset period is between fifty and eighty-five years old, with a progressional decline after the initial onset. However, some cases have reported the initial onset much earlier than fifty years old. One study showed a significant link between the initial onset and the severity of the disease. The study covered a sample of individuals with Lewy body dementia from early onset (twenty-eight years old) to late-onset (eighty-nine years old) and found individuals with an earlier onset of Lewy body dementia were found to have a more aggressive form of the disease than those who had a later onset.
Continue reading to learn how gender impacts this condition.
Gender
Gender also appears to be correlated with Lewy body dementia, with a higher occurrence of the disease in males. A study done in the United Kingdom based on autopsy studies attempted to define why males tend to have higher rates of Lewy body dementia and were able to dismiss co-founding attributes such as a patient's length of life, smoking status, and education level. The study theorized environmental exposures and the alteration of sex hormones might play a part in the increased risk. Despite this theory, the study acknowledged further research would need to be conducted to establish a definitive link and understanding of the sex component related to the occurrence of Lewy body disease.
Continue reading to learn about genetics and Lewy body dementia.
Genetics
The National Institute on Aging states having a family member with Lewy body disease may increase a person's risk for developing the disease. However, Lewy body dementia is not classified as a genetic disease. Variants in three specific genes (APOE, SNCA, and GBA) have been tested and found to have an affiliation with an increased risk of developing the disease, but the actual cause of the variance is unknown. Despite the advancement of genetic testing, there currently is no test with the ability to predict the development of Lewy body disease. More genes and variance will need to be researched and linked to understand if genetics truly plays a part in the development of Lewy body dementia.