Lewy body dementia
There's currently no cure for dementia with Lewy bodies, but there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms.
See below for information about:
Before treatment starts,your current and future health and social care needs will be assessed and a care plan drawn up.
Thisis a way of ensuring you receive the right treatment for your needs. It involves identifying areas where you may need some assistance, such as:
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Medication can't stop dementia with Lewy bodies getting worse, butfor some people it can help reduce some of the symptoms.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl), may help improve Hallucinations , confusion, and sleepiness in some people.
These work by increasing levels ofa chemical called acetylcholine in the brain, which improves the ability ofthe brain cells to send signals to each other.
Common side effects include feeling and being sick, diarrhoea , headaches , tiredness, and muscle cramps.
Other medications that may help control some of the symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies include:
In addition to medication, there area number of therapies and practical measures that can help make everyday living easier for someone with dementia.
These include:
It may also be helpful to get in touch with a support group, such as The Lewy Body Society , the Alzheimer's Society or Dementia UK .
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If you've been diagnosed with dementia, you might want to make arrangements for your care that take into account the decline in your mental abilities.
This may include ensuring that your wishes are upheld ifyou're not able to make decisions for yourself.
You may want to consider:
and end of life planning .
If youcare for someone with dementia, you may find it helpful to read more about:
Looking after someone with dementia
Respite care this can allow you to take breaks from caring
Benefits for carers such as allowances and tax credits that may be available
Find out about a type of dementia called dementia with Lewy bodies, including what the symptoms are, how it's treated and what the outlook is.
Find out about the main symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies and when to get medical advice.
Find out about the main treatments for dementia with Lewy bodies, including medication and other therapies.