Signs Of Lewy Body Dementia

Visual-Spatial Issues

Lewy body dementia patients may experience visual-spatial issues along with hallucinations. As discussed previously, hallucinations can often be the first symptom of the illness and also tend to recur. Visual hallucinations are the most common, although some patients also experience tactile, smell-related, and auditory hallucinations. Patients may react to or speak to animals or people who aren't actually there. Visual-spatial processing refers to the ability to understand where objects are in a space. It includes being able to tell how far one is from something, where one's body parts are, and how far the distance between objects is. Issues with visual-spatial processing can make it difficult to do things like drive a car, walk, or move objects to their ideal position.

Rigid Muscles Or Tremors

Individuals with Lewy body dementia might have movement symptoms like rigid muscles or tremors. These symptoms are consistent with those seen in Parkinson's disease. Affected individuals may fall more often. While tremors are often present, they don't tend to have the same severity as with Parkinson's disease. There are other movement symptoms as well. Patients may also develop a sleep disorder that disrupts their REM sleep, leading to body movement and vivid dreams. Some patients may also have increased depression and dizziness. It may be difficult for the body to regulate itself because of a decrease in the autonomic nervous system's function. This can cause issues with digestion, pulse, blood pressure, and sweating. Bowel issues like constipation are common.