*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), also known as Lewy body dementia, is one of the most common types of dementia.

Dementia is the name for problems with mental abilities caused by gradual changes and damage in the brain. It's rare in people under 65.

It tends to develop slowly and get gradually worse over several years.

Symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies

People with dementia with Lewy bodies may have:

hallucinations and hearing voices - seeing, hearing or smelling things that are not there
problems with understanding, thinking, memory and judgement - this is similar to Alzheimer's disease, although memory may be less affected in people with dementia with Lewy bodies
confusion or sleepiness - this can change over minutes or hours
slow movement, stiff limbs and tremors (uncontrollable shaking)
disturbed sleep, often with violent movements and shouting out
fainting spells, unsteadiness and falls
depression and anxiety

These problems can make daily activities increasingly difficult and someone with the condition may eventually be unable to look after themselves.

Getting medical advice

See a GP if you think you have early symptoms of dementia, especially if you're over 65 years of age.

If you're worried about someone else, encourage them to make an appointment with a GP and perhaps suggest that you go with them.

The GP can do some simple checks to try to find the cause of your symptoms and they can refer you to a memory clinic or another specialist for further tests if needed.

Tests for dementia with Lewy bodies

There's no single test for dementia with Lewy bodies.

The following may be needed to make a diagnosis:

an assessment of symptoms - for example, whether there are typical symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies
an assessment of mental abilities - this will usually involve a number of tasks and questions
blood tests to rule out conditions with similar symptoms
brain scans, such as an MRI scan, CT scan or a SPECT scan - these can detect signs of dementia or other problems with the brain

Treatments for dementia with Lewy bodies

There's currently no cure for dementia with Lewy bodies or any treatment that will slow it down.

But there are treatments that can help control some of the symptoms, possibly for several years.

Treatments include:

medicines to reduce hallucinations, confusion, drowsiness, movement problems and disturbed sleep
therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy for problems with movement, everyday tasks and communication
psychological therapies, such as cognitive stimulation (activities and exercises designed to improve memory, problem solving skills and language ability)
activities for dementia, such as memory cafes (drop-in sessions for people with memory problems and their carers to get support and advice)

Outlook for dementia with Lewy bodies

How quickly dementia with Lewy bodies gets worse varies from person to person.

Home-based help will usually be needed, and some people will eventually need care in a care home.

The average survival time after diagnosis is around 5 to 7 years. But this is highly variable and some people live much longer than this.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, remember that you're not alone. The NHS and social services, as well as voluntary organisations, can provide advice and support for you and your family.

Causes of dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is caused by clumps of protein forming inside brain cells. These abnormal deposits are called Lewy bodies.

These deposits are also found in people with Parkinson's disease, and they build up in areas of the brain responsible for functions such as thinking, visual perception and muscle movement.

It's not clear why the deposits develop and how exactly they damage the brain. It's thought that part of the problem is the proteins affecting the brain's normal functions by interfering with signals sent between brain cells.

Dementia with Lewy bodies usually occurs in people with no family history of the condition, although there have been very rare cases that seem to run in families.

More information

Living with dementia

Care and support

How you can help

Share your dementia experiences on the Alzheimer's Society website

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.