Dementia symptoms: Sleep disturbance is a ‘common’ sign of dementia with lewy bodies
DEMENTIA signs and symptoms occur when problems in the brain cause the condition to develop. There are several different types, including Alzheimer’s disease, the most common, vascular dementia and dementia with lewy bodies. This could be an early warning sign of the condition.
Dementia with lewy bodies is the third most common type of the condition describing a reduction in brain function.
Signs and symptoms of this dementia can be caused by clumps of protein forming in the brain, known as lewy bodies.
These damage brain cells, and tend to appear in areas of the brain involved with thinking, visual perception and muscle movement.
Some symptoms of dementia with lewy bodies can also appear early, acting as a ‘canary in a coal mine’ for the condition.
One of these is sleep disturbances, according to the charity Alzheimer’s Society.
Someone with Dementia with lewy bodies may fall asleep very easily during the day, but have restless, disturbed nights
Describing it as a “common” symptom, they said it may “start years before the diagnosis”.
“Someone with Dementia with lewy bodies may fall asleep very easily during the day, but have restless, disturbed nights,” they add online.
“In the most common night-time sleep problem, the person has violent movements (e.g. yelling, hitting out) as they try to act out nightmares.
“This is called rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder.”
They continue that for people sharing the bed it can be very distressing and sometimes painful.
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The NHS agrees that “disturbed sleep” is also a possible symptom of dementia with lewy bodies.
Other signs and symptoms of the condition include fluctuating alertness, slow movement, hallucinations and fainting spells.
“These problems can make daily activities increasingly difficult and someone with the condition may eventually be unable to look after themselves,” says the NHS on its website.
“See your 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 their GP and perhaps suggest that you go with them.”
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“As with most types of dementia, the first symptoms of dementia with lewy bodies may affect someone only slightly, but gradually they get worse and cause problems with daily living,” said the Alzheimer’s Society.
“Everyone is different, but a person with this condition will usually have some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.”
Other causes of a sleep disturbance, according to Healthline, including allergies, frequent urination and pain.
"There are many conditions, diseases and disorders that can cause sleep disturbances," says the US-based website.
"In many cases, sleep disorders are the result of underlying health problems."