Lewy Body Dementia Association Sees Interest Soar
The Lewy Body Dementia Association was flooded with calls from the public and media and website inquiries after Robin Williams’ widow, Susan, revealed on Good Morning America this week that his suicide last year was linked to the disease. The Atlanta-based association is the only one dedicated to LBD, which is often mistaken for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or a psychiatric disorder. It affects 1.4 million people and is the second most progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s. The misdiagnosis means patients may not receive beneficial medications or are prescribed meds that make the symptoms worse, says the organization. LBDA president Michael Koehler says the association has shared news about the disease for years, but Robin Williams’ story will help build awareness. The association’s website crashed on the day of Susan’s interview and was down for several hours.
