Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia: Differences and Similarities


	Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia: Differences and similarities A post by Jurgen Zender

Neurodegenerative diseases are a central topic in medical research, and two of the most frequently discussed conditions in this context are Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). Despite their apparent similarities, they differ in many aspects.

Parkinson's disease manifests itself primarily as a movement disorder. Prominent signs include tremors, muscle stiffness, and changes in speech and gait. These symptoms usually occur before any cognitive impairment.

Lewy body dementia, on the other hand, is primarily a cognitive disorder and is third in the ranking of dementia diseases. While some symptoms can resemble those of Parkinson's, LBD focuses on impairment of memory and thinking skills.

A key difference between the two conditions lies in what are known as Lewy bodies. These are abnormal accumulations of proteins found in brain cells. In LBD they are constantly present, whereas in Parkinson's patients they do not necessarily occur.

As far as genetics are concerned, there is some genetic component to Parkinson's disease: around 10-15% of PD cases may be genetic. LBD, on the other hand, is not typically considered a genetic disease.

Conclusion: Despite their similar presentations and shared symptoms, PD and LBD are two distinct diseases that require specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Tabular summary:

characteristics	Parkinson's disease (PD)	Lewy body dementia (LBD)
Affected people in the USA	~1 million	~1 million
Main focus	Exercise	cognition
Characteristic signs	Tremor, gait changes	Lewy bodies, hallucinations
Order of symptoms	Motor first	First, cognitive
Genetic predisposition	Possible (10-15% of cases)	Rare
Associated dementia	Parkinson's dementia (may occur)	Directly connected

The Parkinson Journal is now also available as an app. For just €2,89 (€2,99 on iOS) you get a lifetime free subscription, fast loading times, push notifications and an improved typeface.

And best of all: 50% of the income goes as a donation to PingPongParkinson Deutschland eV, 25% goes into the reserve for the foundation of a non-profit Parkinson Verlags gGmbH and only 25% is needed to cover costs. All employees, editors and authors work on a voluntary basis and are therefore free of charge.

By purchasing the app, you are not only doing yourself a favour, but also making a significant contribution to the fact that the partners PingPongParkinson Deutschland eV and the Parkinson Journal can continue to work successfully and independently.

The app is currently available in an Android version, the iPhone version will be available in about 2 weeks.

Here is the app: Parkinson's Journal Android 4.0

Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia: Differences and similarities A post by Jurgen Zender

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Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia:
Differences and similarities
A post by Jurgen Zender