The former TF1 weather presenter, Catherine Laborde, suffers from a neurodegenerative disease, called “Lewy body disease” (or Lewy body dementia). This pathology also affected actor Robin Williams, who died in 2014. But what is it?
What do we know about this pathology? Who does she touch?
Lewy body disease is the second neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s, discovered in the 1960s. It also shares certain symptoms with the latter, as well as with Parkinson’s, but is distinguished by “a usually faster evolution and by the marked deterioration of the mental faculties”,notes the Federation for Brain Research.
The France Alzheimer website specifies that its evolution can be “very variable” according to the patients.
It mainly affects the elderly. At least, it appears from the age of 50. It is estimated thatit is vastly underdiagnosed : “In France, nearly 250,000 people are affected by this disease, 67% of whom are undiagnosed”, notes France Alzheimer.
It is characterized by “abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein that form inside brain cells”. Its name, theLewy body“, characterizes parts of the brain, called “neural inclusions”, composed of two elements: the protein alpha-synuclein (involved in our learning) and neuronal filaments. Once this protein forms clusters, communication from the brain to the body is no longer normal.
What are the symptoms of Lewy body dementia?
Robin Williams’ wife said in 2015 about her husband who committed suicide: “It wasn’t depression that killed him. Depression was just one of 50 symptoms of his illness.”
Lewy body disease is manifested by a wide range of symptoms. : dementia, motor characteristics reminiscent of Parkinson’s, visual and other hallucinations (in 80% of cases), frequent falls, delusions, sleep disturbance, depression, transient loss of consciousness.
But also a fluctuation in patient behavior which oscillates between concentration, awakening, vigilance, lethargy, in an unpredictable way. From one hour to the next, the subject may be lucid and totally absent. “While these fluctuations are common, they don’t usually occur in the presence of a healthcare professional, which can make diagnosis even more difficult,” notes France Alzheimer.
How is Lewy body disease diagnosed?
This variety of symptoms is explained by a multiplicity of areas potentially affected by the disease. Depending on the Lewy body affected in the brain, the manifestations are different depending on the patient.
To diagnose it, we go through a series of clinical criteria called “McKeith’s criteria“. We also use a DAT scan (which measures the loss of function of the point of contact between our neurons), a cardiac scintigraphy, a polysomnography (study of our sleep), an MRI.
How to treat Lewy body dementia?
We manage to treat certain symptoms, such as hallucinations, cognitive deficit, depression or even motor difficulties linked to the disease. It is possible to support the patient from a symptomatic point of view only. There is no specific treatment yet for this pathology.which therefore cannot be cured.
Sources:
- Lewy Body Dementia, Foundation for Medical Research.
- France Alzheimer.
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