Written by Dr. Melva Croes-Yánez, Neuropsychologist and President of the Alzheimer Foundation Aruba (F.A.A.)
On Tuesday, January 28, 2026, the World Lewy Body Dementia Awareness Day was marked. This date pays tribute to Dr. Fritz Jacob Heinrich Lewy (1885–1950), the neurologist who identified and described the proteins in the brain called “Lewy bodies” in 1912. This discovery occurred during his research on a patient with Parkinson’s disease in Alois Alzheimer’s laboratory in Munich, Germany.
The goal of this world day is to educate global communities that a correct diagnosis is the first step toward a better quality of life.
Understanding the difference between Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)
What does this mean for a loved one? Sometimes a doctor may mention Parkinson’s disease in one visit or context and Lewy Body Dementia in another.
Have you ever been reading about one condition and noticed the other being mentioned? Maybe the diagnosis is not entirely clear, and you are trying to figure out what matches what you see or feel.
This confusion is completely understandable because both conditions share the same underlying brain problem.
Did you know:
- Lewy Body Dementia is often called “the most common disease that many still don’t know about”, even though it is officially classified as a Major Neurocognitive Disorder (the term that replaced “dementia” in medical manuals like the DSM-5 since 2014).
- Lewy Body Dementia has not received the same attention in medical and public media as other neurocognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia, leaving many patients and families without the guidance they need.
- Lewy Body Dementia is often confused with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
- Both conditions—Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s—are mainly caused by the accumulation of proteins in the brain called Lewy bodies.
- Symptoms such as balance problems, falls, muscle stiffness, changes in behavior and cognition (memory and thinking) are present in both conditions, making it difficult for non-specialist doctors to give a correct diagnosis.
Other causes can produce similar symptoms. For more information, see the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/parkinson-disease
Diagnosis
A correct differential diagnosis is important because it influences treatment choices, medications, and the type of care a patient needs.
Specialists experienced with Lewy Body Dementia can diagnose it based on:
- Symptoms and patient behavior
- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Neuropsychological tests
- Specific scans (e.g., DaTscan , cardiac scintigraphy , and PET scans), which are not yet available in Aruba
Main Differences Between Parkinson’s and LBD
The main difference lies in the order in which symptoms appear:
- Parkinson’s Disease: Usually starts with movement problems, muscle stiffness, tremors, slow walking, etc., often long before any cognitive changes (memory, thinking, attention). Cognitive problems may appear up to 20 years after movement symptoms.
- Lewy Body Dementia: Cognitive changes (thinking, memory, attention) appear earlier, often at the same time as or even before movement problems (tremor, muscle stiffness, etc.).
Treatment / Medication
Some patients may respond well to Parkinson’s medications, especially if they have Parkinsonian symptoms like muscle stiffness. However, side effects can worsen neurocognitive symptoms, especially confusion.
Neurocognitive Disorders (NCDs)
Neurocognitive disorders affect how the brain functions, especially memory, attention, and thinking ability.
“Major Neurocognitive Disorder”
According to the latest DSM-5 (published May 2013), the term “dementia” has been officially replaced by “Major Neurocognitive Disorder”. This change reduces stigma (as “dementia” is often associated with “loss of sanity”) and reflects progress in diagnosing cognitive decline.
- Not all memory issues indicate a neurocognitive disorder. Forgetting names temporarily or taking longer to learn new things with age is normal if it doesn’t interfere with daily life or independence.
- Memory problems can also be related to stress, trauma, or lack of sleep and are not neurocognitive disorders.
Common Types of Neurocognitive Disorders
- Alzheimer’s: Most common, affects memory and causes confusion
- Vascular: Caused by problems with blood flow (e.g., stroke)
- Lewy Body Dementia: Known for visual hallucinations and changes in alertness
- Frontotemporal: Mainly affects personality, behavior, and language
- Parkinson’s: Primarily a movement disorder, but can affect the mind later
- Brain Injury: Cognitive damage due to trauma or head injury
- Huntington’s Disease: A hereditary disease affecting movement and emotions
- Delirium: Sudden severe confusion, often reversible, caused by infection, inflammation, medication side effects, alcohol/drug toxicity, dehydration, etc. Sometimes delirium can indicate the beginning of a major neurocognitive disorder