Today's Article

Robin Williams Widow On Lewy Body Disease

로빈 윌리엄스 미망인, 노인성 치매에 대한 견해 밝혀 

Before his death, Robin Williams had 1undergone 2multiple tests trying to 3figure out what was wrong. He had been experiencing 4severe 5memory, 6movement, 7personality, 8reasoning, sleep and mood changes.

“A few months before he passed, he was given a Parkinson’s diagnosis but that was just the 9tip of the iceberg.”

Williams’ widow says an 10autopsy 11revealed her late husband had 12Lewy Body Dementia or LBD. It’s the second most common type of 13progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, and causes a progressive decline in 14mental abilities. People with LBD may have visual 15hallucinations and changes in 16alertness and 17attention. They may also have signs of Parkinson’s disease like rigid muscles, slow movement, walking difficulty and 18tremors.

“Right now there is no highly accurate method or accepted 19biomarker for diagnosing somebody with Lewy Body Dementia while they’re alive.”

Some factors may increase LBD risk including age. People older than 60 are at higher risk. Sex, the disease strikes more men than women. And family history, anyone with a 20relative who has LBD or Parkinson’s disease is at higher risk. While there’s no cure, some symptoms may improve with treatment.

“If we had an accurate diagnosis, we could have sought specialized care. Robin wouldn’t have had to feel so afraid and we wouldn’t have had to waste so much precious time trying to figure out what was going on.”