The legendary actor death was announced on Thursday
Tributes have been paid from across the world after the death of acting legend Sir Patrick Stewart was announced on Thursday. He was 86.
His social media page announced that he had passed away following a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”. It read: “We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy body dementia.
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayers, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to all of us. We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
What is Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy body dementia?
The NHS explains that dementia “is not a disease itself. It’s a collection of symptoms that result from damage to the brain caused by different diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. These symptoms vary according to the part of the brain that is damaged”.
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia, which damages the brain and affects memory and thinking, according to the Alzheimer’s Society. Around two-thirds of people living with dementia in the UK are thought to have Alzheimer’s disease, while around one in 10 has dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), although it is thought to be under-diagnosed.
DLB is caused by tiny clumps of protein, known as Lewy bodies, which appear in the nerve cells of the brain and it can affect thinking, memory, movement, mood and how well the body works, the Alzheimer’s Society says.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia
The NHS explains: “Different types of dementia can affect people differently and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way. However, there are some common early symptoms that may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia. These include:
- memory loss
- difficulty concentrating
- finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- being confused about time and place
- mood changes
“These symptoms are often mild and may get worse only very gradually. It’s often termed “mild cognitive impairment” (MCI) as the symptoms are not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.”
It goes on to say that people might not notice these symptoms if they have them and family and friends may not notice or take them seriously for some time. For some, symptoms will remain the same and not get worse, but others with MCI will go on to develop dementia.
The NHS explains that dementia is not a natural part of ageing. That means people should speak to GP “sooner rather than later if you’re worried about memory problems or other symptoms”, it adds.
Symptoms specific to Alzheimer’s disease
The NHS explains that the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:
- memory problems, such as regularly forgetting recent events, names and faces
- asking questions repetitively
- increasing difficulties with tasks and activities that require organisation and planning
- becoming confused in unfamiliar environments
- difficulty finding the right words
- difficulty with numbers and/or handling money in shops
- becoming more withdrawn or anxious
Symptoms specific to Lewy body dementia
The NHS says that dementia with Lewy bodies has many of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and people with the condition typically also experience:
- periods of being alert or drowsy, or fluctuating levels of confusion
- visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not there)
- becoming slower in their physical movements
- repeated falls and fainting
- sleep disturbances
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
