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Dementia with Lewy Bodies: An Overview
NURS 751
Estimated to impact one and a half million Americans, Dementia with Lewy
Bodies (DLB) is the second most common form of degenerative dementia, following
only Alzheimer’s Disease. Particularly frustrating to physicians and the scientific
, 2
community, DLB has no specific test for diagnosis or is the condition treatable. Currently,
the best that modern medicine can provide is the management of specific symptoms
related to the disease. DLB was named after Fredrich Lewy, a doctor who discovered the
condition while working in the laboratory of Doctor Alois Alzheimer in the early 1900’s
(Outerio et al, 2019, pg. 1). Since that time, the medical community has struggled to
combat DLB and research into this disease remains a robust area of study amongst
medical researchers. It's important for healthcare professionals to understand the details
of DLB, including its effects on the brain and how it's diagnosed and treated. Healthcare
professionals need to be equipped with comprehensive knowledge to navigate the
complexities of DLB and contribute to the multidisciplinary approach essential for
patient well-being.
One significant aspect of DLB pathophysiology is the involvement of
neurotransmitter systems. Acetylcholine deficiency is a key feature and its reduction is
more severe in DLB compared to other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's
disease. The decrease in acetylcholine levels, especially in the temporal and parietal
cortex, contributes to cognitive decline, with visual hallucinations being a prominent
symptom. Additionally, up-regulation of muscarinic M1 receptors in the temporal lobe
leads to delusions. Dopamine, another neurotransmitter, is also affected in DLB. The
pathology extends to the substantia nigra, dorsal raphe, locus ceruleus, and the dorsal
motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. The presence of Lewy bodies disrupts dopaminergic
function, resulting in motor symptoms reminiscent of Parkinson's disease, such as
bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability (Outerio et al, 2019, pg. 1).
Dementia with Lewy Bodies: An Overview
NURS 751
Estimated to impact one and a half million Americans, Dementia with Lewy
Bodies (DLB) is the second most common form of degenerative dementia, following
only Alzheimer’s Disease. Particularly frustrating to physicians and the scientific
, 2
community, DLB has no specific test for diagnosis or is the condition treatable. Currently,
the best that modern medicine can provide is the management of specific symptoms
related to the disease. DLB was named after Fredrich Lewy, a doctor who discovered the
condition while working in the laboratory of Doctor Alois Alzheimer in the early 1900’s
(Outerio et al, 2019, pg. 1). Since that time, the medical community has struggled to
combat DLB and research into this disease remains a robust area of study amongst
medical researchers. It's important for healthcare professionals to understand the details
of DLB, including its effects on the brain and how it's diagnosed and treated. Healthcare
professionals need to be equipped with comprehensive knowledge to navigate the
complexities of DLB and contribute to the multidisciplinary approach essential for
patient well-being.
One significant aspect of DLB pathophysiology is the involvement of
neurotransmitter systems. Acetylcholine deficiency is a key feature and its reduction is
more severe in DLB compared to other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's
disease. The decrease in acetylcholine levels, especially in the temporal and parietal
cortex, contributes to cognitive decline, with visual hallucinations being a prominent
symptom. Additionally, up-regulation of muscarinic M1 receptors in the temporal lobe
leads to delusions. Dopamine, another neurotransmitter, is also affected in DLB. The
pathology extends to the substantia nigra, dorsal raphe, locus ceruleus, and the dorsal
motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. The presence of Lewy bodies disrupts dopaminergic
function, resulting in motor symptoms reminiscent of Parkinson's disease, such as
bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability (Outerio et al, 2019, pg. 1).
