What is Lewy body dementia? The often misdiagnosed disease Sir Patrick Stewart battled

Tributes to Patrick Stewart have been pouring in following his death on Wednesday (Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) Beloved Star Trek and X-Men actor Patrick Stewart has died aged 86 after a ‘brief and poignant’ battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Originally from West Yorkshire, the actor has been described as ‘the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic’, by Sir Ian McKellen. While you may not have heard of Lewy body dementia, it’s actually one of the most common types of the disease, accounting for 10 to 15% of cases, alongside Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Dementia is a name for problems pertaining to mental abilities after gradual changes and damage in the brain. While Patrick didn’t publicly reveal his battle with the condition while he was alive, his family shared it in a statement following his death on Wednesday. So, here’s all you need to know about the disease… Look beyond the headlines Get a curated list of the most important stories of the weekend every Sunday from our weekend editor Jess Austin. Look beyond the headlines with exclusive articles, emotive interviews and must-read explainers from our expert team of reporters across news, lifestyle and entertainment. Sign up here. What is Lewy body dementia? Otherwise known as dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), it refers to a build-up of Lewy bodies in the areas of the brain that control alertness, visual perception and thinking. ‘It’s rare in people under 65,’ ​Former Chair of the Royal College of Pharmacy and health commentator, Thorrun Govind, tells Metro. ‘But, it’s also not an inevitable part of getting older.’ Patrick Stewart had a brief battle with DLB (Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Lewy bodies are abnormal clumps of protein that develop in nerve cells in the brain responsible for thought, movement, visual perception, sleep and awareness. Unfortunately, the reason for this isn’t fully understood. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. According to Dementia UK, this then interrupts the connections between brain cells and stops them from working, while also reducing the chemicals needed for the brain to function properly. ‘This tends to develop slowly and can get gradually worse over several years,’ Thorrun adds. Symptoms Early signs are typically cognitive, so you might spot changes in thinking, struggles with spatial awareness or sight, difficulty managing menial tasks and problems staying alert. Memory loss will also be an indicator, although it’s rarely the first symptom, according to Dementia UK. These symptoms tend to manifest a year before, or at the same time as, problems with movement. These can come in many forms, including slowed movement, shuffling or appearing rigid, or tremors in the hands. They may have issues with balance and begin falling a lot. Less common are symptoms like swallowing problems, inability to smell, drooling, excessive sweating, constipation and bladder sensitivity. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video You may also spot apathy, anxiety and depression manifesting, as well as delusions (fixed beliefs about something that is not true). Some people might experience Capgras syndrome, where they believe someone close to them has been replaced by an imposter. Diagnosis ‘DLB has a lot in common with Parkinson’s disease, so that can make a diagnosis challenging,’ Thorrun explains. Due to an overlap in symptoms, it can be misdiagnosed, so it’s important to keep track of what symptoms manifested and when, because with Parkinson’s dementia, the physical symptoms will happen first. Lewy body dementia can also be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease, because of similar issues with thinking and perception. ‘It appears to affect men slightly more than women,’ the pharmacist explains. ‘There may be a genetic component, too, with people who have a family history of DLB or Parkinson’s having a higher risk.’ If you or a loved one has any of these symptoms, Thorrun recommends immediately seeing a GP, who will then refer you to a dementia service if they suspect DLB. A family and medical history will be taken, while establishing what symptoms they have and assessing their physical health. Expect questions about difficulty with memory, carrying out tasks, their mood and behaviour, sleep patterns and whether they’re hearing or seeing things. They may also need to have a SPECT scan or DaTSCAN, which measures how much dopamine they have. Someone with the disease will have low levels of the chemical. Patrick Stewart has been described as one of the best actors of a generation (Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) Treatment While there is no cure for dementia, those with DLB may be offered medication that could improve someone’s quality of life as the disease progresses. This could include certain types of antipsychotics to help reduce distressing hallucinations and aid concentration, although Dementia UK warns those with Lewy body dementia can be particularly sensitive to these medications, so they should be used with ‘extreme caution’. Other treatments include physiotherapy to help with movement, or music and art therapy to improve mood and memory. Cognitive training can also be useful, so things like puzzles and memory games, to help slow mental decline. It’s worth trying new activities like joining a community group, such as a choir or book club, or learning a skill like a craft, which can all help with maintaining independence, quality of life, self-esteem and social connections. Deals of the Day I've tested hundreds of beauty products and this Perricone MD cleanser stands out Get £297 worth of beauty products for £80 with PrettyLittleThing's advent calendar This Hoover vacuum is a game-changer for pet owners and muddy homes The wellbeing brand behind everyone's favourite candles has launched its biggest sale yet Oodie's £1 sale returns with wearable blankets, dressing gowns and throws up for grabs For further information regarding Lewy body dementia, visit Dementia UK. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: ‘The manosphere must be tackled as a public health problem like smoking’ Arrow MORE: Games Inbox: What is Patrick Stewart’s best video game role? 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