Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms that affect memory, thinking and daily function, but the diseases underneath that umbrella are not the same. Specialists at the SMH Memory Disorder Clinic in Sarasota recently explained the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, two distinct conditions with different proteins in the brain and different warning signs. Lewy body dementia involves abnormal alpha-synuclein protein and can cause visual hallucinations, fluctuating attention and REM sleep behavior disorder. Alzheimer’s involves amyloid and tau tangles and typically brings gradually worsening short-term memory loss.
Why does the distinction matter for Suncoast families? Because the treatments are different. FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs are not the same as those used for Lewy body dementia, and patients can react badly to the wrong type. Some people have mixed dementia, with both proteins present, which makes an accurate diagnosis even more valuable. The conversation around these conditions picked up after actor Patrick Stewart’s death renewed public discussion, and public figures like Robin Williams and Bruce Willis have helped families understand the importance of early evaluation.
The local recommendation is straightforward: get a baseline cognitive evaluation and full workup around age 65, if not 70, so you and your doctor have a reference point for the future. If you’ve noticed changes in yourself or someone you love, that’s the conversation to have now. Have you or a family member had a baseline memory evaluation? Tell us about the experience in the comments.
