Lewy body dementia (LDB) is one of the most common forms of dementia in older people. It is thought to affect around 130,000 people in the UK. Lewy body dementia, also known as dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), is a form of dementia that has a lot of similarities with Parkinson’s disease. It affects both mental skills and motor skills, and can make day-to-day tasks very difficult.
This page will guide you though what Lewy body dementia is, what causes it, the symptoms, how it’s diagnosed and how it can be treated.
What is Lewy body dementia (LBD)?
Lewy body dementia is a type of dementia. LBD occurs when certain proteins group together inside brain cells. These protein deposits are known as Lewy bodies.
They typically form in the parts of the brain which control thinking, vision, and muscle movement. This causes disruption and affects the ability of these parts of the brain to function.
Both illnesses are caused by the build-up of Lewy bodies, and both illnesses lead to disrupted mobility. The key difference is that people with Parkinson's disease do not show as much cognitive decline, but people with LBD do.
What causes Lewy body dementia?
What are the symptoms of Lewy body dementia?
Some symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies are the same as other types of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, such as lapses in memory, decreased processing speed, and difficulty with language. However, it does have some differentiating symptoms which we have listed below and people with LBD will have at least one of these symptoms.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are a symptom of LBD that are not seen so often in other types of dementia. LBD-induced hallucinations can range from being distressing to amusing for the person experiencing them.
Mobility problems normally associated with Parkinson's disease
Dementia with Lewy bodies can cause severe difficulties with mobility. This can include difficulty walking, uncontrollable shaking, and shuffling when walking (as seen in people with Parkinson's disease). People with LBD are also more prone to falling over.
Fainting
One of the symptoms of Lewy body dementia is being prone to fainting. People living with LBD may benefit from a personal alarm with built-in fall detection, and a visit from an occupational therapist to make their home safer.
Rapid swings between alertness and confusion
Rapid swings between being alert and being confused or dopey is a unique symptom of LBD compared to other types of dementia. It is, however, also a symptom of delirium, which is often misdiagnosed as dementia.
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty swallowing, also known as Dysphagia, is common in people who have Lewy body dementia. If this affects your relative, you may want to read our tips on getting someone with dementia to eat more.
Difficulty sleeping
People with LBD often have great difficulty with their sleep cycle. This may lead them to sleep during the day, or be very active while sleeping at night. Our tips on getting someone with dementia to sleep more will be useful if you are experiencing this problem.
How is Lewy body dementia diagnosed?
As with most types of dementia, there is no single method of making a diagnosis for Lewy body dementia.
A doctor will take a medical history and consider all symptoms. A follow-up appointment might be suggested in order to make a comparison of how symptoms progress, and ability to respond to questions and cognitive tests.
Can dementia with Lewy bodies be treated?
Sadly there is not a cure for LBD, or any treatments which can help to slow its progress. There are, however, medicines and treatments that can be used to help manage the symptoms of Lewy body dementia.
Lewy Body Dementia Medicines
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors have been proven as effective medication for hallucinations, confusion and sleepiness in some people with LBD.
Memantine can be used by people with moderate-to-severe LBD for people that cannot take AChE inhibitors.
Levodopa is a drug that can help people with Lewy body dementia who struggle with their mobility. It can, however, worsen some other symptoms.
Other LBD Treatments
Occupational therapy can help a person who has dementia with Lewy bodies to identify solutions to aspects of their day-to-day routine that they struggle with.
Physiotherapy can help to address some of the mobility problems that are common in people with LBD.
Psychological therapies such as cognitive stimulation can help to improve memory, language and problem-solving skills.
There is dedicated support for people with LBD from the Lewy Body Society. You can read about other organisations providing support for rarer types of dementia in our guide to dementia support and help across the UK.
This article has been written using information from trusted organisations. Their guidance helps ensure the information here is accurate and reflects current UK law and best practice.
- Theoretical and Natural Science Journal, Dementia Research: A Comprehensive Overview, July 2025.
- Alzheimer’s Association Report, 2025 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures, April 2025.
- NHS, Causes of dementia, July 2023.
- NHS, Dementia with Lewy bodies, July 2023.
- National Library of Medicine, Major Neurocognitive Disorder (Dementia), November 2022.
What to do next
Learning about Lewy body dementia can be stressful. Here are some practical steps to take if you’re worried about it, or think you or a loved one might have the disease.
- Getting an early diagnosis is important. Contact your GP if you notice Lewy body dementia symptoms.
- Get a care assessment from the local authority. This will determine what kind of care is needed (washing, dressing, food preparation etc.), and, with an associated financial assessment, how it will be funded. Also, look out for living aids and elderly home monitoring services that can help manage the symptoms of Lewy body dementia.
- After receiving a diagnosis, it is important to get legal affairs in order, such as lasting power of attorney (a legal document that allows someone else to make decisions on your behalf), which will make future care much easier to manage.
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