"Dementia with Lewy Bodies--and Parkinson's Disease Dementia" is a super book that I'm currently reading, and an important resource for anyone dealing with LBD!

It is a book written by doctors, for doctors--so, as you might imagine it does get quite technical. But this book covers every single aspect of this disease, even down to devoting an entire chapter to, "Dementia with Lewy Bodies--a carer's view" and another on, "Other atypical parkinsonian disorders and their differentiation from dementia with Lewy bodies".

Not only is there tons of information in this book that most LBD caregivers are not aware of, but there is a lot of content that even your doctor is not aware of! You'll certainly want to share aspects of this book with your LO's doctor---but make him buy his own ...cuz it is a bit pricey

BUT it is CURRENTY ON SALE at amazon.com, so be sure to check it out!

From the cover:
"Dementia with Lewy bodies is now accepted as the second main cause of neurodegenerative dementia and it vies with vascular dementia as the most common form of dementia overall. Like Alzheimer's disease, it is an age-related condition and as such prevalence and incidence will dramatically increase with the aging of the population over the next 20 to 40 years. Huge progress has been made in the last decade in terms of its recognition as a common cause of cognitive imparement, its clinical features, its underlying neurbiology, investigations of patients and management.

"There is clearly a need for a new text solely focused on this condition which will deal with the most relevant topics exploring the whole spectrum of the disorder from diagnosis to management and including what is known about neurobiological changes. 'Dementia with Lewy Bodies' summarizes the latest state-of-the-art science and is equally accessible to clinicians such as old age psychiatrists, geriatricians and neurologists as well as allied health professionals with a particular interest in this disorder."

Table of Contents:

Contributors
Acknowledgments
Preface
1. Historical background
2. Clinical spectrum of Lewy body disease
3. Classification and diagnostic criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies
4. Epidemiology of dementia with Lewy bodies
5. Neuropsychological features of dementia with Lewy bodies
6. Neuropsychiatric features of dementia with Lewy bodies
7. Neurology of dementia with Lewy bodies
8. Autonomic dysfunction in dementia with Lewy bodies
9. Neuroimaging
10. Progression of cognitive imparment and duration of illness
11. Neuropathology and pathogenesis of dementia with Lewy bodies
12. Neurchemical pathology of dementia with Lewy bodies
13. Nosological confusion regarding the boundaries of dementia with Lewy bodies
14. Pharmacological treatment of dementia with Lewy bodies
15. Nonpharmacological approaches to the care of dementia with Lewy bodies
16. Dementia with Lewy bodies - a carer's view
17. Dementia in Parkinson's disease
18. Other atypical parkinsonian disorders and their differentiation from demntia with Lewy bodies
Index

It's about time a book was written on LBD!

Wish it would have come out a year ago. Isn't that the way it goes sometimes?

I am glad it is out there for everyone now though(including drs). Considering LBD is #2 form of dementia after AD one would have thought more info would be easily accessible.

I too had to do the research & bring information to Mom's dr to get a correct diagnosis. Lucky for our LO's they have us to advocate for them. Keep up the good work CG's.

Thanks Maribee!

Mariabbe, I recall the first time I introduced this subject to my hubbies GP.He told me I caught him with egg on his face and he had never heard any thing about this since school/I did alot of research and knew , with hubbies symptoms he was not experienceing AD.THE EYE HALLUCINATIONS AND THE PSYCHOTIC HALLUCINATIONS.
The mental state was always one of paranoia and being defensive.His moods were always directive to the paranoia and they remain the same.This doctor did not take me serious as did the doctors and specialists at the VA.They are so up to date with dementia.They deal with so many of our elderly.
As a matter of fact my hubbies GP, whom I never liked but hubby would not change as he thought I was trying to control him.He and his staff caused so many set backs for hubby.I have stayed with him because of his cooperation with hospice.After all the mistakes he has made he has become open to my needs for hubby.He is not my doctor.

quote:

Originally posted by mae:
It took me a long time to have my hubbies doctors consider his having LBD.

Me too, Mae! ...and unfortunately, mom's dx was only made after she had experienced some serious problems (parkinsonisms) because of the meds that were being tried. That is why it is so important to diagnose this particular dementia as early as possible. Unfortunately, it is still often last on the list of possibilities---if it's even on the list at all.

I, too, have found myself on the teaching end of this disease...and thankfully, most doctors are very receptive when they realize that you have done your research and are presenting something that they wouldn't have thought of on their own.

Mariabee, thank you for this bit of information.It took me a long time to have my hubbies doctors consider his having LBD.After much evaluation they came to the same conclusion.So many doctors had not heard of this since med school.Our socail worker thanked me for educating her on LBD.She has had many diagnoised with it.