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Why Choose Dementech For Your Lewy Body Dementia Treatment?
- Same day consultations where possible, offering immediate dementia support
- Advanced diagnostic technology and scans largely carried out with 48 hours
- Same day consultations and assessments
- Prices starting at £485
- Patient Advisors provide unique treatment plans and advice following your consultation
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What is Lewy Body Dementia?
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also referred to as dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). DLB occurs when protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, develop and clump together in nerve cells in the brain. When this happens, the brain sustains damage and a person may find it difficult to engage in day-to-day activities, such as controlling their movements.
Like other forms of dementia, DLB progresses over time which means symptoms tend to start out minimal and gradually get worse. Some people with Lewy body dementia become unable to manage their symptoms or look after themselves, resulting in the need for additional care at home care or nursing home support.
At Dementech Neurosciences, we have a team of private dementia consultants who provide expert advice and treatment plans to patients with DLB to help mitigate the symptoms for as long as possible. With early intervention and the right therapies in place, it is possible to manage the symptoms of DLB for a number of years.
Our Happy Patients
Have had nothing but kindness and professionalism from Dementech and all their staff. From their initial guidance by Shakeela, through to staff conducting the MRI tests and Dr. Lucio D'Anna for his expertise clarity of explanation, compassion and consideration. Special mention to Zobia, who saved the day with her quick thinking that helped my mother-in-law to obtain extended care. Overall a perfect experience. Cannot recommend them enough.N Mohamed
My family and I experienced one of the hardest times of our lives having to deal with my wife’s deteriorating condition. I would like to personally thank the lovely young lady Zobiaa from Dementech, for showering us with compassion, empathy and genuine care and concern. Her professionalism, high-level customer service and communication, eye for detail, and willingness to go the extra mile to accommodate our needs and make not only my wife, but our whole family, feel as comfortable and supported as possible, is something we will always be grateful for. Thank you so much for your friendly and polite presence Zobiaa and taking the time and effort to build a relationship with us. You really made our visits to the clinic a positive, 5 star experience.P Allen
Same Day Consultations
We provide same-day consultations to patients where we can to ensure fast diagnosis and early intervention treatment.
Quality Tests, Assessments & Scans
We use our cutting edge technology to conduct necessary scans and tests, typically within 48 hours.
Patient Advisor Consultations
You will be assigned a Patient Advisor who will determine a unique treatment plan and expert guidance that is best suited to your needs and condition.
Prices Starting at £485
Prices for an hour-long consultation start at £485. Each follow up appointment will cost £285. We always maintain full transparency about our costs.
Video Consultations Available
We offer video consultations through FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Skype to patients who are unable to attend the clinic for their consultation.
What Causes Lewy Body Dementia?
It’s not clear exactly what causes Lewy body protein deposits to clump together, nor is it clear how the Lewy bodies affect the brain. However, it is thought that they somehow impact brain cell signals depending on where they are deposited. For example, if they’re deposited in areas of the brain responsible for movement, thinking, or seeing, this interference could cause the symptoms associated with DLB.
Lewy body dementia generally occurs in people over the age of 65 and who have no family history of the condition, but rare cases have been reported where it appears to run in the family. DLB has a similar outlook to Alzheimer’s disease, with most people surviving their diagnosis for six to 12 years. Life expectancy post-diagnosis is highly personal to each patient, and some people with DLB live far beyond 12 years post-diagnosis.
Currently there is no cure for Lewy body dementia, and there is no treatment that can halt or slow the progression of the condition. However, there are a range of therapies and treatments that can help patients with DLB to better manage their symptoms.
What are The Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia?
Lewy body dementia causes a progressive decline in mental and cognitive abilities. The symptoms vary from person to person and largely depend on where in the brain clumps of protein are settling. Some people may get clumps in the area of the brain that affects vision, whilst others will find their movement and muscle reflexes are impacted.
As the condition progresses, more symptoms may develop and begin to worsen. This usually means more support is needed to help patients live day-to-day.
The common symptoms of dementia with Lewy body disease include:
Hallucinations
You may see things that are not really there, e.g. people or animals. These hallucinations often happen repeatedly and are realistic and well-formed. Hallucinations are among the first symptoms of DLB that you might experience.
Difficulty with sense of smell
In addition to visual hallucinations, you might experience hallucinations relating to your sense of smell. You may also find it hard to recognise familiar smells and match smells to the source. Some people even experience a complete loss of their sense of smell.
Issues with stability
You may experience periods of unsteadiness and frequent falls. Some people experience fainting spells and frequent feelings of unsteadiness. It’s also common for people with DLB to have issues with their blood pressure dropping, which can result in dizziness and falling over.
Changes in alertness
You may experience changes in alertness and attention, and experience periods of confusion that may be unpredictable and change from time-to-time. Some people with DLB stare into space for long periods of time, whilst others become drowsy and sleep excessively.
Movement problems
You may experience symptoms such as slower movements, stiffness in the arms and legs, and shaking or trembling. These can mirror the signs of Parkinson’s disease, with some people finding themselves unable to walk properly. Stiffness and rigidity can also lead to shuffling and falling over.
Sleep disturbances
You may have vivid dreams or experience shouting or moving while sleeping. This can disrupt your sleep and may also cause injury. This is due to a REM sleep behaviour disorder which causes people to act out their dreams. Depression and drowsiness can lead to increased sleeping during the day.
There are other symptoms of DLB that a person might experience, including depression, issues with language, and problems exercising judgement. Memory loss can be a symptom of DLB, but it’s not as severe in patients with DLB as it is in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and it tends to occur later on as the disease spreads.
It’s possible for people to experience symptoms that come and go, particularly in the early stages. For some people, the symptoms can remain constant, but in most people, they are not until the condition becomes more advanced and pronounced.
Over time, symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies increase and get worse. This is generally over a period of several years. In the later stages of DLB, many people have problems with speech and swallowing, leading to chest infections or risk of choking.
Key Differences Between Alzheimer's Disease & Lewy Body Dementia
Dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease are different types of dementia, despite having some overlapping symptoms. Some patients with DLB are misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, resulting in in-effective treatment plans and the possibility of taking prescription medication that isn’t suitable.
Understanding the type of dementia you or someone you care for is experiencing is vital if you are to learn how to deal with the symptoms. Some of the more distinct differences include:
- Memory loss is more prominent in early Alzheimer’s than in early Lewy body dementia, although advanced Lewy body dementia may cause memory problems and affect decision making, planning and perception. Alzherimer’s disease specifically impacts how the brain forms new memories, whereas in LBD, cognitive function (e.g. problem solving) is most affected.
- Movement symptoms are more likely to be an important cause of disability early in Lewy body dementia than in Alzheimer’s, although Alzheimer’s can cause problems with walking and balance as it progresses through the stages.
- Hallucinations, delusions and confusion with familiar people are significantly more frequent in early-stage Lewy body dementia than in Alzheimer’s. Typically, people with DLB will experience hallucinations as one of the first symptoms, whereas people with Alzheimer’s tend to develop hallucinations approximately four years post-diagnosis.
- REM sleep disorder is more common in early Lewy body dementia patients than in Alzhimer’s disease patients due to disruptions caused to the autonomic nervous system. This can lead to symptoms that are similar to Parkinson’s disease.
- Blood pressure drop on standing, dizziness, falls and urinary incontinence, are much more common in early Lewy body dementia than in Alzheimer’s. Typically, physical symptoms occur in later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, whilst they’re among the first signs to present in Lewy body dementia.
Lewy Body Dementia Diagnosis
Diagnosing Lewy body dementia isn’t as straightforward as carrying out one simple test. A number of assessments and tests may need to be undertaken to determine what is causing your symptoms, how advanced your condition is, and what the most appropriate form of treatment might be.
Dementech Neurosciences offers a wide range of cutting-edge diagnostic services specifically designed for people with DLB, such as the Dementech Biomarker Tools and genetic counselling appointments. By using the latest advances in imaging and genetics, we are able to answer all your questions regarding the diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring progression and response to treatment. We can also rule out other conditions or diseases that may be responsible for your symptoms.
We are also able to carry out most tests and scans within 48 hours of them being requested. This means you can receive a diagnosis quicker and early intervention can begin to help you manage your symptoms as best as possible.
The Lewy Body Dementia Diagnosis Process at Dementech
1. Consultation
The first step in diagnosing Lewy body dementia is to have a consultation with one of our dementia specialists. This involves describing symptoms and giving an accurate insight into previous medical history.
2. Assessment
After your consultation, you will attend an appointment with one of our neuropsychologists at our specialist neuropsychiatric lab. You will undergo a more detailed cognitive assessment using state of the art computer technology.
3. Testing
To determine an accurate diagnosis, you will need to undergo a series of tests. These may include imaging scans and blood tests which will be carried out at one of the leading London centres. These tests will be able to determine the severity of the condition.
4. Follow-up
When we receive your results, you will need to attend a second consultation with one of our private dementia consultants. They will deliver a diagnosis and outline what the next steps are. They will also answer any questions you may have.
What is The Treatment for Lewy Body Dementia?
At Dementech, we have a team of dementia specialists who offer a multi-faceted approach to treatment for dementia with Lewy bodies. We have speech and language therapists who can help with communication symptoms, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who can provide assistance with physical symptoms, and psychologists and psychiatrists who specialise in maintaining cognitive function.
There is no cure for Lewy body dementia, nor is there any treatment that can slow the progression of the condition; however, there are a number of treatments and therapies that can be used to successfully control symptoms. They include:
- Medication to reduce the frequency of hallucinations, feelings of drowsiness, and disturbed sleep, such as memantine, donepezil, and galantamine
- Physical therapies to mitigate symptoms affecting, movement, speech, and day-to-day living, including occupational and physiotherapy
- Cognitive stimulation to aid problem solving skills, communication, and memory
- Dementia-centred activities like going to drop-in sessions for support and advice
A care plan will be devised with the aim of allowing you to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. This may mean looking into bringing in carers or finding an appropriate nursing home that can offer the right level of care and support. Changes may also need to be made to your home to make it more accessible and safe.
Our dementia consultants have years of experience in helping patients and caregivers through the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. We provide bespoke care plans for all our patients and ongoing advice and support to help patients and their loved ones become more informed and at ease.
Clinical Trials
We provide patients with the opportunity to take part in clinical trials before the general public can. Some of the pharmacological interventions may aid in slowing the progression of LBD. Paired with our therapeutic approach to treatment, we aim to prevent dementia from worsening for as long as we can, and we ensure caregivers have an active role in treatment where possible.
Caregiver Support
Our dementia consultants also provide support and guidance for caregivers. We understand that a dementia diagnosis can be hard to come to terms with and can cause high levels of stress, which is why we provide ongoing support to both patients and caregivers throughout treatment.
Get Lewy Body Dementia Support Today
Meet Our Doctors
Our team of Lewy body dementia experts in London provide expert care to diagnose, manage and treat Lewy body dementia symptoms.
Dr Lucio D’Anna – Consultant Neurologist in London
Lead Specialist
Memory Clinic
Neurologist
Private Neurology
Stroke Treatment
FAQs About Lewy Body Dementia
What happens during a Lewy Body Dementia consultation?
When you arrive for a consultation with one of our dementia consultants, they will go through the symptoms you’re experiencing and aim to get an accurate understanding of your medical history. They may then arrange for you to undergo further tests, scans, or assessments.
Can you arrange tests?
We can arrange tests for you before you come in for your consultation, or after if that’s more convenient for you.
How quickly can I be seen?
Where possible, we will aim to arrange a same-day consultation with you.
Will I get a copy of my test results?
We will give you copies of all your test results, as well as a CD of your MRI scan if you request it.
Do you have MRI scan alternatives for those who are claustrophobic?
If you’re claustrophobic, we can arrange for you to have an upright or an open MRI scan.
How quickly can I get MRI scans, blood tests and other testing done?
In most cases, we can arrange for you to have tests carried out 48 hours after requesting them, and we will have your results back within 48 hours of the tests being completed.
Will I be taken off the NHS waiting list if I'm seen privately?
Your NHS care will not be impacted by the care you receive at Dementech.
Do you offer video calls?
If you’re unable to make it into the clinic for your consultation, we can arrange for you to speak to one of our dementia specialists through FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Skype.
Do you provide finance?
We do not currently offer finance or payment plans. All consultation and test fees will need to be paid before your appointments.
Have a Question?
Speak to Lewy Body Dementia Specialists From Our Clinic in London
Our team is on hand to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Simply fill in the form below with your details, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Contact Dementech Today to Discuss Lewy Body Dementia Treatment