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Comment by whycome | Hacker News Reader

> Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia

Lewy body dementia was what Robin Williams had but they didn't discover until after his death and I guess he was misdiagnosed during life.

https://lewybodyresourcecenter.org/robin-williams-lewy-body-...

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My dad had Lewy body dementia when he died and it was awful. I'm really sorry to hear that Stewart and his family had to deal with that.

That page talks about what to do if somebody with LBD is thinking about suicide. After seeing what that disease does, interfering with those plans seems inhumane to me.

> That page talks about what to do if somebody with LBD is thinking about suicide. After seeing what that disease does, interfering with those plans seems inhumane to me.

I watched a parent die of LBD.

After that experience, I'd also be inclined to go with "let them" as the most-correct solution to that particular dilemma.

It must've spread so fast. I watched his interview in the Conan podcast only three years ago and he was smart and sharp and such a wonderful listen. It was a total surprise for me that he had Alzheimer's...

Rest in peace captain :(

Having both is just plain terrible, although I suspect the latter dominated before the former really had an impact.

And to think he was filming Picard just a few years ago.

Yes I was surprised to hear this as I thought Picard was reasonably recent.

I have had 2 uncles (one passed, one in advanced stage) diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. It’s a cruel disease that affects both the mind and the motor functions, making it difficult to walk or stand up straight. It caused my uncle a lot of pain when he couldn’t hold his head up straight, his shoulders and neck scrunched up and hunched forward all the time.

It’s also very trying for family and caregivers, as the person regresses until they’re as helpless as an infant trapped in an adult body.

I was told about 10 years ago that Lewy body dementia can only be diagnosed post-mortem (my grandfather was diagnosed post-mortem).

This has to be incorrect as I know of several alive people that have been diagnosed as such.

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