Lewy body dementia

Overview

Lewy body dementia, the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease, causes a progressive decline in mental abilities.

It may also cause visual hallucinations, which generally take the form of objects, people or animals that aren't there. This can lead to unusual behavior such as having conversations with deceased loved ones.

Another indicator of Lewy body dementia may be significant fluctuations in alertness and attention, which may include daytime drowsiness or periods of staring into space. And, like Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia can result in rigid muscles, slowed movement and tremors.

In Lewy body dementia, protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, develop in nerve cells in regions of your brain involved in thinking, memory and movement (motor control).

Why choose Mayo Clinic for Lewy body dementia

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors and researchers have extensive experience comprehensively evaluating and treating people with Lewy body dementia.
• Teamwork. Doctors trained in nervous system conditions (neurologists), nervous system and mental health conditions (neuropsychologists), nervous system conditions and imaging (neuroradiologists), mental health conditions (psychiatrists), sleep medicine, and physical medicine and rehabilitation work together to evaluate and treat your condition.
• Individualized care. Your doctors will develop an appropriate treatment program to meet your specific needs and to help you manage your condition.
• Research. Mayo Clinic researchers study risk factors, diagnostic techniques and potential treatments for Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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