Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a progressive brain disorder that impairs thinking, movement, behavior, and memory. It is caused by an accumulation of abnormal proteins (called Lewy bodies) in nerve cells in the brain. This accumulation leads to a decline in areas of thinking, behavior, and movement.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia. It is characterized by the gradual loss of memory and cognitive functions, including language, reasoning, and judgment.
While both LBD and AD cause dementia, they are distinct disorders and can be distinguished by their symptoms, progression, and underlying pathology.
The most notable difference between LBD and AD is that LBD is associated with a greater level of movement impairment. People with LBD often experience fluctuations in alertness, difficulty with movement (e.g. walking, balance), and visual hallucinations. People with AD, on the other hand, may experience memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with communication.
In terms of their pathology, LBD and AD both involve the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, but the proteins involved are different. Lewy bodies are abnormal clumps of proteins called alpha-synuclein, while in AD, the abnormal proteins are called amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
Overall, LBD and AD are two distinct disorders with differences in their symptoms, progression, and underlying pathology. People with LBD experience more movement impairment and visual hallucinations than people with AD, and the abnormal proteins involved in each disorder are different.