Friday October 10, 2008

I recently received this thought provoking email from an old friend I knew during medical school:

 

“If you have a choice why not place your license in inactive status just in case God works a miracle and heals you?”

 

Knowing what we do about dementia, what do you think of this question?  Write a comment on the blog sharing your thoughts and ideas with me and with others on this question!

 

 

Frequency of Lewy Body Dementia

United States

Findings from autopsy studies suggest that Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) accounts for 10-20% of dementias. Up to 40% of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) have concomitant LBDs. These mixed cases are sometimes called the LB variant of AD (LBV-AD) and represent an overlap syndrome between LBD and AD. Signs and symptoms of LBV-AD also overlap between LBD and AD. Because the sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis are poor, no good epidemiologic data on incidence or prevalence of LBD are available.

International

Autopsy studies in Europe and Japan indicate that the frequency of LBD is comparable with that reported in studies from the United States.

Mortality/Morbidity of Lewy Body Dementia

• Dementing illnesses (including LBD) shorten life expectancy.
• With severe disease, patients may experience swallowing problems that can lead to impaired nutrition.
• Patients are at risk for falls because of impaired mobility and balance.
• Because of prolonged bed rest, patients are at risk for decubitus ulcers.
• Dysphagia (difficulty with swallowing) and immobility also can lead to pneumonia.

Race

LBD has been described in Asian, African, and European races. Data concerning the relative frequency of LBD in different races are not available.

Sex

Most studies suggest that LBD is slightly more common in men than in women.

Age

LBD is a disease of late middle age and old age.

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·      Pam and I are taking a friend up to Niagara Falls today. Just a nice little day trip to get out, to see the leaves and to just relax. It’s a gorgeous sunny day here today in Northwest Pennsylvania.

 

 

Tomorrow I will talk about a new agent on the market for dementia!

 

 

Dr. David