Learning about Lewy Body dementia

In the past few days I have been asked if the doctors gave us any idea about life expectancy for Terry now that he has been diagnosed.  This is not a question that I thought about but it did catch me off guard when asked.  I only thought about how his mind would slip away and the time when his drivers liscense would have to be taken away, when he would need me to be home full time, when I would have to take care of his personal hygiene issues, etc.  I did not think about the end of his life.  How awful to think about such a thing, it makes me feel a physical pain in my heart.
I did google the question and this is what I found :
Lewy body dementia is very difficult to treat. Unfortunately, people with Lewy body dementia often have severe adverse reactions to antipsychotic medications, which are otherwise helpful in treating symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Therefore, the use of antipsychotic medications for the treatment of Lewy body dementia is not generally recommended.

No drugs have been approved by the FDA to specifically treat Lewy body dementia, but Alzheimer's treatments have been shown to be helpful. In fact, some researchers say that those with Lewy body dementia respond better tocholinesterase inhibitors, such as Aricept, Exelon, and Razadyne, than those with any other type of dementia.

• Profile: Aricept (donepezil)
• Profile: Exelon (rivastigmine)
• Profile: Razadyne (galantamine)

Because individuals with Lewy body dementia often have Parkinson's-like problems, medications for Parkinson's disease can help treat related symptoms. However, they can also increaseconfusion, delusions, and hallucinations.

Behavior management strategies are also useful for managing the difficult behavioral symptoms of Lewy body dementia. Reducing caffeine intake, increasing physical activity during the day, and providing relaxing activities in the evening can improve sleep patterns and decrease violent outbursts during the night.

Prognosis for Lewy Body Dementia

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Lewy body dementia. One study found that the average life expectancy for a person with Lewy body dementia after the symptoms first appear was 7 years. However, individuals with Lewy body dementia have lived anywhere between 2 and 20 years, depending on age, the severity of symptoms, and coexisting medical conditions.

It is the coexisting medical conditions and how they react to the disease and the treatment that are the unknown in Terry's situation.  The drug therapy that he will start soon is known to cause damage to lungs and kidneys.  With the emphysema and CKD that he has they have started him on half of the lowest dosage for one month.  The drug will not cure the dementia but should make the violent outbursts and memory loss not so noticeable.  

More to come as I continue to research.  right now he is not asking any questions and seems fine with the diagnosis.  I pray he can stay in his contented state.