New drugs, psychosis, and an overview of Lewy Body Dementia vs. Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

9 minutes long, 2017-05-09

Great new interview with University of Florida’s Dr. Melissa Armstrong. Clearly describes several elements of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), including how this dementia is an umbrella term that includes both Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) and LBD. She clarifies that Lewy Body “Disease”, is the pathology, rather than the condition and its symptoms, the protein that builds up in the brain.
> Psychosis is a spectrum: hallucinations is the most common. It may also include illusion, where it’s more of a misinterpretation, a sense of presence or passage of another close by, when nobody is there, etc.
> Doctors should not always treat the condition. Medications have risks, most people with LBD are already on many medications. If the psychosis is affecting their quality of life by fear. If it affects safety by investigating or reacting to hallucinations, then treatment is used.
> Anti-psychotics commonly used for LBD include Clozapine and Quetiapine. New drug Pimavanzserin was approved by FDA, but there was only one study, and was with PD with psychosis: it does not mean it’s technically applicable with LBD.
New drugs being tested include: Nelotanserin is a similar drug, study underway for LBD; RVT101 for memory and thinking and walking; and a new treatment for REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder. There are lots of trials for LBD drugs underway, but none are yet FDA approved. 

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