Robin Williams Widow On Lewy Body Disease

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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.¡±