Dementia is a relatively common condition that tends to affect people in old age. Its effects can be devastating not only on the patient but also to the people that are closest to them. There is more than one type of dementia, and Lewy body dementia is one of them.
Lewy bodies are abnormal deposits of a type of protein that is known as alpha-synuclein. These deposits affect the chemicals in the brain, and this leads to a range of symptoms that are more or less typical of other types of dementia. There is no known cure, but treatments are available that can at least reduce the severity of symptoms.
Symptom #1: Visuospatial Difficulties
Two eyes located on the front of the head are common among predators or omnivores such as ourselves. The simple reason is that it works. The two eyes can work together to allow for triangulation, helping us to judge direction and distance with ease. This is down to the brain’s ability to process the information that is coming from the eyes.
With a failing brain, though, this ability will gradually be lost. The patient can struggle to judge direction and distance, making it difficult for them to get around. Even reaching for glass can become difficult for them and they can require help from other people even to do the simplest of things.
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