Newswise — (ATLANTA) – October 14, 2013 – Expanding its national awareness campaign for October, LBD Awareness Month, the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) has released a public service announcement by Oscar winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, star of the critically acclaimed television show “The View.” Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common progressive memory disorder. More than 1.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease, which affects almost everything about a person, including thinking, movement, behavior and sleep. Early diagnosis is critical and often involves a specialist, because some LBD symptoms resemble Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. People with LBD experience changes in memory or thinking that disrupt normal activities, plus varying combinations of other symptoms including slowness of movement, hallucinations, or disturbed sleep, such as physically acting out their dreams. The disease also affects automated systems such as blood pressure and digestion; people with LBD can have severe medication sensitivities, especially to certain tranquillizers.
The goal of the campaign and PSA is to raise awareness and support for LBD. Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment can significantly improve quality of life for people with LBD.
Watch and share the PSA online featuring Whoopi Goldberg at www.lbda.org/Whoopi "Public awareness of Lewy body dementia is vital to improve the rate of early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and improved quality of life for people with LBD and their families," said Mike Koehler, President of LBDA's Board of Directors. "Our goal is to create awareness of this important health condition and support LBD families through outreach, education and research. This public service announcement is a major step forward for this disease."
To learn more about LBD, find support or to make a donation, visit the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org.
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The Lewy Body Dementia Association The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting people with LBD, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. Through outreach, education and research, LBDA supports those affected by Lewy body dementias. To learn more about LBD and LBDA please visit www.lbda.org.
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