What is Lewy Body Disease (LBD)?
Lewy bodies, named after Frederick Lewy who first observed their effects, are abnormal microscopic protein deposits in the brain that disrupt the brain’s normal functioning causing it to slowly deteriorate. The effects include a degradation of cognitive functioning, similar to Alzheimer’s disease; a degradation of motor control, similar to Parkinson’s disease; or the emergence of psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. It is not yet clearly understood why Lewy bodies occur in the brain and how they cause damage. What is the incidence of LBD in the U.S.? LBD accounts for up to 20 percent of dementia cases in the U.S. — totaling 1.3 million cases.
