Expert: Paula Damgaard - 1/9/2011

Question
Wanted to know what are the symptoms of alzhiemers and what is lewy bodies?

Answer
The symptoms of AD are generally short term memory loss.  However, not everyone presents that way when they are first diagnosed. Some have problems with their executive functioning, which is what allows you to do your checkbook, make decisions, follow recipes things like that.  Others present with the inability to find the right words for what they are trying to say.  But in the end when a diagnosis is being made they must have at least two of the symptoms.  

Lewy body disease is a type of dementia.  The subjects usually present early on with Alzheimer's like symptoms, but then they develop Parkinson symptoms as well.  They also have a good deal of trouble with hallucinations.  

Your local Alzheimer's Associaltion will have lots of literature describing all of the symptoms that you can get for free.  They can also offer you lots of other support and education.  

Hope this helps.  Paula