Is lewy bodies dementia terminal?

Yes: Unfortuntely, lewey body dementia is uncurable and terminal.

Yes, eventually: Neurodegenerative d/o featuring milder physical parkinsonism than parkinson's disease typically. (slowed movements, stiff/rigid muscles & posture, possibly resting tremor). But with early dementia, often with associated psychosis (visual hallucinations, delusional thoughts), excessive sleepiness, depression/anxiety/apathy, & rbd. Rbd = rem behavior d/o, causing acting-out of dreams in rem sleep.

BUT, Rx available: Dopamine meds for physical parkinsonism: Azilect (mao-b selective inhibitor) & sinemet +/- Comtan (stalevo (carbidopa and levodopa and entacapone) is both together). Tailor rx watching for side effects. Avoid Dopamine agonists (requip xl/mirapex er/neupro)--too side effect prone for lewy body patients. For dementia: namenda, paired with Exelon patch or aricept. For psychosis: seroquel or even clozaril. For excess sleepiness: nuvigil.

Yes: LBD is a progressive fatal illness similar to most other types of dementia. However, a person often has the illness for a number of years. Signs that one is nearing the end of life include: weight loss, suffering in the opinion of the doctor or family, pressure ulcers, loss of ability to speak, loss of ability to walk, poor eating.