Cerebral Atrophy

Cerebral Atrophy: Is Your Brain Shrinking?

Symptoms, Causes, and Possible Treatments for Brain Atrophy

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By Esther Heerema, MSW  | Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD

Updated November 28, 2018

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The term cerebral means brain and atrophy means loss of cells or shrinkage. When our brains atrophy, the neurons, and their connections waste away and the brain is literally getting smaller.

What Are the Symptoms of Brain Atrophy?

Atrophy in the brain may cause seizures, dementia (including memory loss, executive functioning impairment, and behavior changes) and aphasia (difficulty with expressing language or understanding it. Muscle weakness and hearing loss can also be symptoms of brain atrophy and should be reported to your physician for further investigation. 

What Causes Cerebral Atrophy?

Several different medical conditions can cause the brain to atrophy, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, stroke, cerebral palsy, Huntington's disease, and some infections such as AIDS and encephalitis.

What Parts of the Brain Are Typically Affected by Atrophy in Dementia?

In Alzheimer's disease, the hippocampus, which helps form new memories, and the cortex, which helps us think, plan and remember, are two areas that are especially affected by atrophy. However, the whole brain shrinks as well. Reduced brain volume can be seen on imaging studies which compare healthy brains to those with atrophy present.

In frontotemporal dementia, the frontal and temporal lobes generally see the most atrophy. Atrophy of these areas of the brain often initially present as personality and behavior changes, whereas Alzheimer's disease often initially affects memory.

A study sought to identify which areas of the brain are generally more atrophied in Lewy body dementia. Researchers found that the midbrain, hypothalamus and substantia innominata were generally the areas with the most atrophy. Being able to establish a pattern of where the atrophy is concentrated can potentially assist in correctly diagnosing the type of dementia.

In vascular dementia, the amount and location of the atrophy vary depending on whether there is a specific area that is affected by a stroke, for example, or multiple small blockages which are correlated with an overall reduced volume of the brain.

Brain atrophy is also present in Huntington's disease. Interestingly, research has found that locations and degrees of brain atrophy vary in Huntington's.

In Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, atrophy also varies significantly, with some cases showing almost no atrophy at all and others developing some generalized atrophy in the overall brain volume.

What Is 'Age-Related Atrophy'?

As people age, a small amount of brain atrophy is expected. Thus, you might hear the doctor explain your MRI scan as showing "age-related atrophy." One study found that in healthy participants without dementia between the ages of 60-91, some amount of brain atrophy developed in as little as one year's time.

Does Brain Atrophy Mean that Dementia Is Likely to Develop Soon?

It's important to know that while significant brain atrophy is a sign of a problem, research supports the idea that age-related brain atrophy does not necessarily mean that dementia is about to develop. Scientists also concluded that the speed of atrophy is more of a factor than the fact that some atrophy is present. In other words, if brain volume declines more quickly than normal, this may indicate a concern.

Can Brain Atrophy Be Prevented or Reversed?

Some research has shown that physical exercise can reduce the speed of atrophy or even reverse some of the atrophy in certain areas of the brain. 

Other research suggests that supplementation with vitamin B (including vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin B6) also helps slow brain atrophy.

A correlation between cerebral atrophy and diet has also been found in some research. For example, in one study, greater brain atrophy (shrinkage) was found in participants who least followed the Mediterranean diet. 

A Word from Verywell

While some causes of cerebral atrophy are outside of our control, others may be impacted by our life choices. We at Verywell hope that learning about these causes and risk reduction strategies will encourage you on your journey towards good brain health. 

I had a scan done in 2008, and it said that there was evidence of Cerebral atrophy and TIA, etc, but nothing was explained, until we asked our family doctor what it all meant.

He said it was brain shrinkage, but was not age related 

Processing information

Most people these days cope quite well with daily things, and don't struggle to cope with thought  processing problems 

I guess I did not know anything about this subject, until I was hit by these problems 

I guess it all started the day I went to look at an Electrical distribution board, and realised that nothing made sense anymore, I no longer understood what cable was what. 

That was just the start of the slippery slope, and since then things have got much worse 

But when you no longer understand your job, or your hobby, life becomes very hard. 

It's like buying a new gadget, and then finding that you don't understand the instruction manual

Like reading an article in a newspaper and then realising that you did not understand what it meant. 

I have struggled with processing information for some time now, and I guess it becomes distressing at times, because my brain is slowing down.

I often sit in meetings and struggle to understand fully what people are saying. 

But I always take my wife with me, so that she can explain things to me when needed. 

The problem is that if you misunderstood what was being said, and you then answered wrongly, then that  is very embarrassing as well as distressing  

If I am asked to do a presentation somewhere, I need time to sit down and decide what I want to say, and then take my time writing it out,  

I simply cannot turn up and do it on the hoof, as many people do these days .

This in turn is usually done by voice activated software on my computer. 

So we just write some notes out, before sitting in front of the computer and talking through the topic, the machine does everything itself 

This way I don't have to keep looking at the keyboard, and then back up at the screen to see what's been written 

While I was working I was involved in committee meetings, and could just sit and answer questions as they came. These days I need time to think them through 

I have no idea what caused this to happen, but I understood from MCI scans in 2009 that the results showed signs of  "Ischemia and Cerebral Atrophy" what ever that may be.

This was after my diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia, so whether I have a mixed form of dementia I don't know 

But this thought processing can take its toll on your hobbies etc, as it takes longer to work your way through it all

I have realised recently  that unless I have support at home, I cannot cook anymore, apart from microwave food,  but even then, it's getting things done in the correct order. 

After years of being able to cook, this has hit me very hard. 

Even answering emails etc has become a nightmare, because I don't always see the obvious, and my wife has to correct things, which is very distressing at times

Dementia and pets

Thanks to Speech-notes for helping me with this blog 

A lot has been written about the role of animals,  living in the same environment as people with dementia, or any other,  neurological illness. 

In the past people have always said that animals are dumb,  yet we all know that this is wrong 

My wife and I know this  from experience,  because when I was seeing the first signs that something was wrong with my health, our Retriever cross Ben, would stay by my side, and would never let me go anywhere without him. 

This was frightening at first,  until someone pointed out that he sensed that something was wrong with me

Even if I went to the toilet, I would find him sat at the door when I came out.

I did not realise at the time, but he obviously had sensed that something was wrong, and no matter where I went he would follow.

If I went for a lie down, I would wake up to find our cat Pepe at one side of me, and Ben at the other. 

It was around this time that I started to see things which were not real, I guess in this day and age it is classed as hallucinations, something I knew nothing about, and still struggle with it. 

But I realised eventually, that if Ben did not move, it was my brain playing tricks on me.

Now that he has passed away,  I have no real way of telling what is real and what is not, unless my wife is with me

Sadly Ben passed away just after I got the final diagnosis and got settled back in the family home in the North East. It seemed that he was ill himself,  although he did not show it until it was too late.

I vaguely remember crying my eyes out at the vets, made much harder when the vet told us that Ben must have known he was ill, but must have hung on until I got my diagnosis and was settled, then decided it was time for him to move on. 

He was in many ways my guardian Angel, and protected me from the worst while I was going through the diagnosis procedure, and was my eyes, when I was not sure if something was real, or if I was hallucinating 

Sometimes I find the whole situation to be stressful, and have been accused of staring,  when I am trying to work out what is real and what is not.

It's not the first time I have seen people, who then simply disappeared, and at times like this I find the situation to be stressful.

However these days we hear so much about Dogs, for those who have dementia, something I find interesting as I would never have considered it before

Dogs being used to assist those living with eyesight problems etc

Dogs being trained to assist other people with various medical problems. 

Dogs used to sniff out medical problems 

A few years ago I went out with my son's dog, a rather nutty  border collie, who only has three legs, but noticed that this dog, kept close to my right leg, in fact as my wife said she was acting like a stabiliser,  to stop me falling over. 

Although I said at the time, that I could feel her pressing against my leg I was not worried,  because she was doing a job that need doing.

But thinking about this properly, I do feel that it is good to have animals around us, because they know what is needed and give pure love and affection 24 hours a day, in return for nothing more than being fed, watered and walked. 

Yes walking is good exercise, so each dog must be matched to the person with the illness,  so that we don't match a powerful dog to a weak or person with balance problems.

Vision and perception

Borrowed from another website  Wednesday 9th March 2016

• People with dementia may experience problems with their sight which cause them to misinterpret the world around them. In some cases, people with dementia can experience hallucinations. This factsheet considers some specific difficulties that people with dementia can have, and suggests ways to support them. Understanding potential problems and giving appropriate help, support and reassurance can greatly assist people living with dementia to feel safe, at a time when the way they perceive reality may be changing.

Vision and perception

Seeing is a complicated process that involves many different stages. Information is transmitted from your eyes to your brain where it is then interpreted, alongside information from your other senses, thoughts and memories. You then become aware of what you have seen (it is 'perceived'). Problems that involve both vision and perception can be referred to as 'visuoperceptual difficulties'. As there are many different stages involved in the seeing process, various types and combinations of mistakes can occur. Common mistakes include:

• Illusions - what the person sees is a 'distortion of reality'. This may result from a particular characteristic of the object, such as its surface being shiny or it being the same colour as the wall behind. An example might be seeing a face in a patterned curtain.
• Misperceptions - what the person sees is a 'best guess' at the inaccurate or distorted information the brain has received from the eyes. This is usually the result of damage to the visual system due to diseases such as glaucoma. For example, a shadow on the carpet could be mistaken for a hole in the floor.
• Misidentifications - damage to specific parts of the brain can lead to problems identifying objects and people. For example, distinguishing between a son, husband or brother may become difficult.

It is easy to see how these mistakes may lead to the person saying or doing things that make others think they are having delusions. However, what the person is experiencing is not a true delusion (it is not based on incorrect reasoning or 'delusional thinking') but is the result of damage to the visual system.

A visual hallucination is different from a visuoperceptual mistake. A visual hallucination involves perceiving or seeing something that is not there in the real world (see 'Hallucinations in people with dementia' below).

Causes of visuoperceptual difficulties

Normal ageing can lead to visuoperceptual difficulties, including:

• reduced sharpness (blurring)
• needing more time to adapt to changes in light levels (eg when going from a dark room into sunlight)
• the area in which objects are seen (the 'visual field') getting smaller, and loss of peripheral vision (being able to see things outside of the direct line of vision) occurring
• pupils becoming smaller
• problems with depth perception
• shadowing from small shapes floating in the visual field (known as 'floaters').

Eye conditions that can affect visuoperception include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal complications from diabetes. These can all result in changes such as blurring, partial loss of visual field and, in some cases, blindness. They can also cause hallucinations and distortion in the vision - known as Charles Bonnet syndrome.

A stroke can also cause someone to have problems with their vision. They may experience central vision loss, visual field loss, eye movement problems and visual perception and processing issues.

Sometimes medications can cause or contribute to visual difficulties. They include some drugs from the following categories: cardiovascular, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, drugs for Parkinson's disease, and even eye medications.

Specific types of dementia can also damage the visual system and cause visuoperceptual difficulties. These include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia. Rarer forms of dementia, such as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), can also cause visuoperceptual difficulties.

Visuoperceptual difficulties in people with dementia

The specific difficulties a person experiences will depend on the type of dementia they have. This is because each type of dementia can damage the visual system in a different way.

Difficulties may include:

• decreased sensitivity to differences in contrast (including colour contrast such as black and white, and contrast between objects and background)
• reduced ability to detect movement
• changes to the visual field (how much you can see around the edge of your vision, while looking straight ahead)
• reduced ability to detect different colours (for example, a person may have problems telling the difference between blue and purple)
• changes to the reaction of the pupil to light
• problems directing or changing gaze
• problems with the recognition of objects, faces and colours
• loss of ability to name what has been seen
• double vision
• problems with depth perception.

Dementia can also result in difficulties with orientation. This in turn can lead to:

• bumping into things
• swerving to avoid door frames
• difficulties reaching for things within the visual environment (such as a cup of tea or door handle)
• getting lost or disorientated, even in familiar environments.

Some noticeable consequences of the above changes include:

• difficulties reading and writing, doing puzzles or playing board games
• problems locating people or objects, even though they may be in front of the person - this may be because of other distracting visual information (such as patterned wallpaper) or because of a lack of colour contrast (for example, not seeing mashed potato on a white plate)
• misinterpreting reflections - this may manifest as seeing an 'intruder' or refusal to go into a bathroom because reflections make it appear occupied
• mistaking images on the TV for real people
• difficulty in positioning oneself accurately to sit down in a chair or on the toilet - sometimes this difficulty is mistaken for incontinence
• appearing confused or restless owing to an environment that is visually over-stimulating and difficult to navigate.

Visuoperceptual difficulties can also lead to problems moving around. These problems can make a person fearful of falling and lead to them slowing down their movements while they try to walk safely. If carers understand this, they can try to anticipate these situations, help explain what is being encountered, offer their arm for support, offer encouragement and slow down their own movements. Specific difficulties that people with dementia may have when moving around include:

• misjudging distances and where objects are, even in familiar environments
• stepping very highly over carpet rods or shadows because the change in colour looks like a change in level
• difficulties going down stairs due to problems judging how many steps there are and where the next one is
• avoiding shiny flooring because it appears wet or slippery.

As seen from the examples above, visual difficulties can affect many aspects of a person's daily functioning. If people with dementia are living in their own home with carers who are helping them, the real extent of their visual difficulties may not be apparent until they experience a change in environment, such as going out shopping, on an outing, or on holiday.

How to support someone with visuoperceptual difficulties

This section looks at ways to reduce visuoperceptual difficulties and to support a person experiencing these problems.

Careful attention to eye care and visual health

• Arrange for regular eye checks, and inform the optometrist of the dementia so that this can be taken into consideration when arranging treatment and appointments.
• If the person wears glasses, check that they are clean and that the prescription is correct, and encourage the person to wear them.
• Check the person is wearing the correct glasses for the correct distance, eg reading or television.
• Research has shown that multifocal glasses can increase the risk of falls in people when they are outside the home. It may be useful to have separate distance and reading glasses. Although you will need to check that the correct glasses are being worn and have them clearly labelled.
• If cataracts are the cause of, or are contributing to, poor sight, talk to an optometrist about how to have them treated.

Environmental adaptations

An occupational therapist can visit the home to assess whether any equipment or adaptations are needed. This is called an occupational therapy home assessment. The occupational therapist can arrange minor adaptations, such as handrails, adapted cutlery and special chairs, through social services. For more information, see factsheet 429, Equipment, adaptation and improvements to the home.

Tips:

• Deliberate use of colours can help significantly. For example, a red plate on a white tablecloth is more easily visible than a white plate, and toilet seats are easier to see if they contrast with the colour of the toilet bowl and walls. Colour can also be used to highlight important objects and orientation points (eg the toilet door) and to camouflage objects that you do not want to emphasise (eg light switches or doors that the person doesn't need to use).
• Improve lighting levels around the home. This can reduce visual difficulties and help to prevent falls. Lighting should be even around the home and should minimise shadows - some people resist going near dark areas in corridors and rooms.
• Minimise busy patterns on walls and flooring and try to reduce any changes in floor patterns or surfaces - the person may see such changes as an obstacle or barrier.
• Remove or replace mirrors and shiny surfaces if they cause problems.
• Close curtains or blinds at night.

Practical tips

If a person fails to recognise an object or person, try not to draw any unnecessary attention to the mistake and avoid asking questions that might make them feel 'put on the spot'.

If appropriate, give the object to the person and explain how it is used. If they do not accept this explanation, try not to argue with them. Ignore the mistake and listen to what they are trying to say. Being corrected can undermine a person's confidence and they may become reluctant to join in conversation or activities. For this reason, it is important to focus on the emotions behind what is being said, rather than the facts or details.

If the person struggles to recognise people, ask friends and relatives to introduce themselves to the person. If the person doesn't recognise somebody it can be distressing for them and can also be upsetting for those around them. If this happens, try to reassure the person and find tactful ways to give them reminders or explanations.

Try to make activities accessible for the person. For example, if the person enjoyed reading but is no longer able to do so, consider reading to the person or using audiobooks. Likewise, if the person is unable to read the newspaper or watch TV, radio programmes can help people keep up with current affairs. Cooking can be an enjoyable activity if it is made easy - for example using pre-chopped vegetables and ready-made sauces.

Hallucinations in people with dementia

What are hallucinations?

A hallucination is an experience of something that is not really there. Hallucinations can occur for all the senses, though visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not really there) are the most common type of hallucination experienced by people with dementia.

Visual hallucinations can be as simple as seeing flashing lights, or as complex as seeing animals, people or bizarre situations. Less often in people with dementia, hallucinations can involve hearing (voices, for example), smelling, tasting or feeling things that are not really there.

Hallucinations and dementia

People with dementia are often thought to be hallucinating when in fact they are making a mistake about what they have seen (see 'Visuoperceptual mistakes' above). There are some specific forms of dementia, however, where hallucinations are more common. These include dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia. Hallucinations can also occur in Alzheimer's disease.

Hallucinations in people with dementia with Lewy bodies usually take the form of brightly coloured people or animals. They often last for several minutes and can occur on a daily basis. Around one in 10 people with dementia with Lewy bodies also experience smells that are not really there (known as olfactory hallucinations). People with dementia may also experience auditory hallucinations (hearing sounds or voices) and tactile hallucinations (sensing things that aren't there).

Supporting the person

If you suspect that a person is hallucinating, try to explain calmly to them what is happening. If they cannot retain this information, repeat it when they are calmer. However, if this is still not possible, there is little point in arguing. Attempting to convince someone that they are mistaken can lead to more distress, for both parties.

Try to stay with the person and offer reassurance. Tell them that what they are sensing is not evident to you, but you want to know what they are experiencing. Listen carefully to what they describe. Could it be that language difficulties can explain what they are reporting? For example, someone might refer to green cushions as 'cabbages'.

Try distracting the person to see if this stops the hallucination. For visual hallucinations, the environmental adaptations listed above - including improving lighting levels and eliminating shadows - are also important to consider, as are the points listed under 'Careful attention to eye care and visual health'. For auditory hallucinations, check the person's hearing and make sure that their hearing aid is working, if they have one. People are less likely to hear voices that are not there when they are talking to someone real, so company can also help.

Treatment

It is important to note that hallucinations can be caused by the side-effects of medication (including some antidepressants and drugs for Parkinson's disease) or certain illnesses (including fever, seizure, stroke, migraine and infection). If a person is experiencing hallucinations you should consult their GP. If the person's hallucinations involve multiple senses, seek medical help immediately, as this can indicate serious illness. It is also a good idea to seek medical attention if the hallucinations frighten the person, last a long time or occur often.

When visiting the GP, it will help if you bring notes about:

• what the person saw or sensed
• what time of day it occurred and after what event (eg nap, meal, exercise)
• where it happened and how long it lasted
• how the person responded (eg, if they were distressed) and the words they used to describe what they experienced
• medication the person is taking and the dosage (including any supplements and over-the-counter medications)
• the person's medical history, including any previous sight (or other sensory) conditions and mental health issues
• the person's use of alcohol or other recreational drugs.

Some people with dementia experiencing hallucinations respond to anti-dementia drugs, particularly people with dementia with Lewy bodies. In some situations, people with dementia may be prescribed antipsychotic medication.

Antipsychotic drugs do help some people with dementia, but they can also cause side-effects and should be used with caution and be reviewed regularly. However, there are certain circumstances where antipsychotic medication can be effectively used to treat hallucinations, despite their risks. In some cases they can eliminate or reduce the intensity of psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, and have a calming and sedative effect.

For more information, see factsheet 408, Drugs used to relieve behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia.

If a person with dementia with Lewy bodies must be prescribed an antipsychotic drug, it should be done so under constant supervision and reviewed regularly. This is because people with dementia with Lewy bodies are at particular risk of severe adverse reactions to antipsychotic medication. If you have questions about the use of antipsychotic drugs speak to the doctor.

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Seeing the obvious and sometimes things which may not be there

November 2018

Over the years I have struggled with seeing things, some of which may or may not be real.

This can be upsetting to those people living with Lewy Body Dementia, but it can also be upsetting for those caring for these people, or anyone nearby who does not understand what is happening.

We had a change our carpets at home, because I could often see very large spiders walking across the floor, or sometimes on the wall nearby.

I was never frightened of spiders before, but these days  I really struggle, because in my mind they are real, and they scare me to death. 

I used to throw my slipper at them, but these days, my aim is so bad I am liable to hit the television or worse, my wife. 

The other day I went for a walk round our local park, and saw some boys on the skate boarding ramps, or so I thought. 

When I got round the corner they were not there. I looked all around thinking that they had run off, but there was no sign of them anywhere, and there was no where for them to hide.
There simply is no way three people can simply disappear into thin air like that, although I have had this experience before,  but never understood what was going on

I found this to be upsetting as I was on my own, and could not work out what was happening.

This also left me feeling a little frightened, so I went home again. 

This was at the time I was taking codeine for my back, and I wondered after Christmas, whether it was the codeine which caused this extra problem, because it not recommended. 

I sometimes have to stare at things long enough to work out whether they are real or not,  which is not really good, but sometimes it's my only option.

A dear friend of mine, who also had Lewy Body Dementia, used to see a large green frog, but although his wife said it was not real, he would sit and talk to it on a regular basis. He called it his pet frog. 

Trying to understand whether something is real, or whether it's my brain playing trucks on me is very difficult to cope with.

This can also cause major problems when I am crossing a road, deciding whether I am seeing a car, and if so how far away is it. 

I have been so close to getting run over by a car in the past, and it gets frightening, but I keep going in the hope that it all  changes

I guess the brain is very sensitive, but we take it for granted, until the day it stops working properly.  

Does the Medical Profession really understand Lewy Body Dementa

Thanks to the Speech Notes APP for allowing me to start writing again, as I can talk to my tablet computer, then this sends it all direct to the blog, without the stress of thinking about what I am writing

Thinking about what I want to write, and putting on paper, is difficult these days, but this app has now made life so much easier

Medical Profession, and the lack of knowledge about Lewy Body Dementia

We found this out the hard way, after one young dementia consultant put me on medication to help with my graphic nightmares during the night. 

This was started just before we went on holiday one year. But on the second night, I tried to climb out of the hotel window in the hope of breaking free from this horror. Luckily for me, the window was locked so it did not open, and we were on the third floor of the hotel.

My wife woke up just in time to stop me trying to escape from the window.

As I am living with Lewy Body Dementia, I have always been limited as to what medications I can take and what dose that is limited to.

My wife rang the hospital the next morning and the medication was reduced and then stopped. This was because, this young hospital doctor had put me on something without checking the correct dose I could take with this illness.

However, I have been amazed at how many Doctors and Consultants etc, claim to know all about Lewy Body Dementia, then do something totally stupid.

They think that because they understand one type of dementia, that they know it all, but just how wrong can this be

I was recently seeing a Consultant for lower back pain because we were not sure if it was connected to my osteoarthritis in my hip.

 After another hip injection, I was told that there was nothing that they could do, so I was referred to the pain management clinic, where I saw another specialist, and yes he knew all about Lewy Body dementia, so much so, that he tried to make my wife look silly.

He told me that he was putting me on codeine, to help with the pain. This was supposed to be a low dose but said that the family doctors could raise the level when needed. As this did not help a family doctor told us to raise the level at certain times of the day.

We did not know that this medication was bad for those living with this illness, and neither did he

Eventually, as I was in a lot of pain, my wife got me an appointment to see a chiropractor. After one visit he said that these pain-killers were very bad, and he wanted me off them. However, he soon found the cause of my problems as the pain was coming from trapped nerves in two parts of my back and also realised, that I had a major problem with my jaw which was out of line.

Since seeing him in November, I am off all pain-killers and feel much better. 

I also had a problem with foot drop, which was ignored by the hospital, by this has now nearly gone, apart from when I get very tired.

When I went back to see my Lewy Body Dementia consultant, he was horrified that I had been on Codeine, because it’s not good for people with this illness, because it causes complications, but was pleased that I am now off them.

We then got an appointment at our doctors, where my wife asked if the Codeine could be removed from my repeat prescription, and told them why. 

My wife said they looked puzzled because they knew nothing about this. but after explaining what the consultant had said, they agreed to remove it.

Just after this, I saw an occupational therapist who was attached to the pain management consult, and this started all over again because she refused to believe that these tablets were bad for me, and yes she fully understood Lewy Body Dementia?

All she wanted to do was put me back on them again.

Needless to say that we always check before changing a prescription.

It seems to be a running battle between my wife and those in the medical profession who claim to fully understand this illness, always check with your consultant before taking anything new.

While doctors can not understand everything about Dementia when they leave University, I do feel Lewy Body dementia needs to be more widely taught to medical students in the future

Thank goodness for the Dementia consultants who really know about this illness and its complications

I like many people are extremely lucky to have a brilliant Lewy Body Consultant looking after me, as well a lovely support staff, but many people are not so lucky.
Let us all hope that this changes for the best  in the future