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Heartlander · 80-89, M
Lewy Body is usually characterized by delusions and/or hallucinations in some form or other, maybe multiple forms. They may hear voices, or see things that aren't there, or feel things that don't exist. And they are all very real to he individual. There may also be a disconnect from he present, like a continuation of experience that happened 50 years ago. There may also be the Parkinson's symptoms with uncontrollable tremors, body movements, etc. Lewy Body and Parkinson's are interrelated, caused by an abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain and the symptoms depend on what part of the brain is affected. The disease progresses as more and more of the brain gets consumed.
The suicides may simply be a response to or participation in the hallucinations. Like a tiger is chasing you and you run off a cliff, or you believe that you have been sentenced to death by a judge, or you believe that your mother no longer loves you and in all of the above you respond as if it's very real. The disconnect from the present can make family members and friends unrecognizable, maybe even turn them into part of the hallucinations, or turn your home into maze where nothing is recognizable and one must escape. Sometimes the hallucinations are short lived, sometimes not; but as the disease progresses so do the hallucinations.
On the positive side, instead of a tiger chasing you, it may be a deceased grandparent embracing you and you are reliving childhood happiness. Or it may be your loving deceased grandmother one day and the vicious tiger the next.
I believe there are like 5 or 7 stages as lewy body progresses. At the the later stages there is complete dependency on others and happiness itself may be a hallucination facilitated to some extent by the care providers.
The suicides may simply be a response to or participation in the hallucinations. Like a tiger is chasing you and you run off a cliff, or you believe that you have been sentenced to death by a judge, or you believe that your mother no longer loves you and in all of the above you respond as if it's very real. The disconnect from the present can make family members and friends unrecognizable, maybe even turn them into part of the hallucinations, or turn your home into maze where nothing is recognizable and one must escape. Sometimes the hallucinations are short lived, sometimes not; but as the disease progresses so do the hallucinations.
On the positive side, instead of a tiger chasing you, it may be a deceased grandparent embracing you and you are reliving childhood happiness. Or it may be your loving deceased grandmother one day and the vicious tiger the next.
I believe there are like 5 or 7 stages as lewy body progresses. At the the later stages there is complete dependency on others and happiness itself may be a hallucination facilitated to some extent by the care providers.