Dr. Jonathan Fellows, board-certified neurologist at the Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND), was recently featured in the New York Post in an article examining the unique symptoms of Lewy body dementia (LBD).
While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, LBD is the third-most common and is characterized by distinct clinical features. “Patients can experience fluctuations in their cognition, alertness, and attention, which can vary from day to day or even hour to hour,” Dr. Fellows told the Post.
One hallmark symptom is the “Lewy lean”—a balance and gait issue in which patients may lean persistently to one side when standing, sitting, or walking. This can result in frequent falls and mobility problems, often appearing in the later stages of the disease.
Dr. Fellows also explained that LBD often progresses faster than Alzheimer’s, averaging 5 to 8 years from diagnosis to death, compared to 8 to 10 years for Alzheimer’s. Early symptoms may include REM sleep behavior disorder—vivid dreams accompanied by physical movements such as yelling, kicking, or punching—and detailed visual hallucinations.
Dr. Fellows emphasized the importance of recognizing these signs early and seeking medical guidance, as symptoms can overlap with other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke.
Read the full New York Post article here: https://nypost.com/2025/09/29/health/what-is-the-lewy-lean-the-sign-of-a-type-of-dementia-that-progresses-faster-than-alzheimers/
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