Introduction
Robin Williams was a beloved actor and comedian who tragically passed away in 2014 due to complications from Lewy body dementia. His widow, Susan Schneider Williams, has since become an advocate for raising awareness about the disease and its symptoms. In her efforts to spread awareness, she has shared her story and the story of her late husband in hopes of helping others who may be struggling with the same condition. In this article, we will explore what Susan Schneider Williams wants you to know about Lewy body dementia and how to make dietary changes to help manage the symptoms.
Robin Williams’ Widow Wants You to Know This About His Disease
Robin Williams’ widow, Susan Schneider Williams, is speaking out about her late husband’s battle with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that affects movement, cognition, behavior, and mood. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Schneider Williams shared her experience of watching her husband’s decline and the importance of understanding the disease.
Schneider Williams said that her husband’s symptoms began in October 2013, when he started having difficulty sleeping and began to experience paranoia and delusions. He was eventually diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in May 2014. Schneider Williams said that the disease was “like a sea monster with tentacles of symptoms that were constantly shifting.”
Schneider Williams is now advocating for more awareness and understanding of Lewy body dementia. She wants people to know that the disease is not just a form of dementia, but a complex neurological disorder that can cause a wide range of symptoms. She also wants people to know that the disease is not just a “disease of aging,” but can affect people of any age.
Schneider Williams is also encouraging people to make lifestyle changes that can help reduce their risk of developing Lewy body dementia. She recommends eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. She also suggests avoiding processed foods, sugary drinks, and foods high in saturated fat.
Schneider Williams’ message is an important one. Lewy body dementia is a devastating disease that affects millions of people around the world. By understanding the disease and making lifestyle changes, we can help reduce our risk of developing it.
Robin Williams’ widow Susan Schneider Williams is opening up about his diagnosis of Lewy body dementia, which was only discovered following an autopsy on his brain after he passed away in August 2014. “A few months before he passed, he was given a Parkinson’s (disease) diagnosis,” says Schneider Williams. “But that was just the tip of the iceberg… None of the doctors knew that there was this ghost disease underlying all of this. When that was revealed, that was like essentially finding out the name of my husband’s killer. We had this experience with something that was invisible and terrifying, truly. And then on the other side of it, I’m left to find out the science underneath it that helped explain this experience. Robin wasn’t crazy. That was one of his biggest fears.” Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a neurodegenerative disorder where protein deposits (called Lewy bodies after neurologist Frederick Lewy) build up in the brain. “Dementia is the development of a change in thinking that affects day-to-day functioning,” says neurologist James Leverenz, MD. “While memory loss is the most well-known symptom of dementia, people with LBD don’t necessarily experience that early on. They often have more insight into the physical and mental changes they’re experiencing compared to people with Alzheimer’s disease.”
There are five main signs of LBD, according to Dr. Leverenz: Mental slow-down, visual hallucinations, Parkinsonism, fluctuations, and sleep disorder. “It becomes problematic when people start believing their visual hallucinations are true,” says Dr. Leverenz. “If they call the police or can’t fall asleep because they’re scared, we may need to manage this symptom… A family member, or affected person, may report that there are normal days but other times seems confused or sleepy. Often the confused or sleep times clear up without any intervention.”
Paranoia and depression are signs of LBD, something Schneider Williams noticed in her husband. “It was the amygdala region of his brain that had a ginormous amount of the Lewy bodies. So that area of the brain is really our ability to regulate our emotions, particularly fear and anxiety. And Robin’s was basically broken.”
“While anyone can develop Lewy body dementia (LBD), those most at risk are over the age of 50,” says Cleveland Clinic. “Men are slightly more likely to develop LBD than women.”
Research into LBD causes and treatment now includes a spinal fluid test from the company Amprion and a skin biopsy test from CND Life Sciences. “When I wrote that editorial ‘The terrorist inside my husband’s brain,’ I was convinced that a diagnosis wouldn’t matter anyway, because there is no cure,” says Schneider Williams. “But my thinking since then has completely changed. Diagnosis is everything — not just for the patients and caregivers, but for the doctors, clinicians and researchers. If we had an accurate diagnosis, we could have sought specialized care.”
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