Susan Williams, the widow of comedian Robin Williams, said in an interview Tuesday that her husband did not take his life last year because he suffered from depression, but because he suffered from a neurological disorder known a Lewy body dementia.
The disease, which few people, save the families of those suffering from it, are familiar with, had begun to cause significant problems for Robin Williams -- from paranoia to depression, his widow said.
Susan Williams talked about the couple's struggle with the actor's increasing medical issues in the year leading up to his August 2014 suicide, saying she even began to wonder if her husband was a hypochondriac.
Williams said she has since learned about the disease that was discovered during her husband's autopsy, and the extent to which it was affecting him.
"If Robin was lucky, he would've had maybe three years left," Williams said. "And they would've been hard years. And it's a good chance he would've been locked up."
What is Lewy body dementia
According to the Lewy Body Dementia Association website, LBD refers to both Parkinson's disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies -- or clumps of protein called alpha synuclein. The clumps eventually build up in the brain and cause an array of terrifying symptoms.
How common is it
It is not considered rare as nearly 1.5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with it. Many times the diagnosis comes after death.
What are the symptoms
- Sleep troubles
- Vivid dreams
- Hallucinations
- Rigid movements
- Anxiety
- Memory loss
- Inability to pay attention
- Depression
* It is important to note that the symptoms listed here could be symptoms for a variety of problems. It does not necessarily mean someone suffering from these symptoms has LBD.
What causes it
The cause of the disease is unknown, but it occurs when Lewy bodies (proteins) attach to portions of the brain. According to the Mayo Clinic, Lewy bodies are often "present in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. People who have Lewy bodies in their brains also have the plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease."
Who is more likely to get it
The most likely person to have the disease is a man older than 60 who has a family history of the disease.
What can be done
Early diagnosis is important, but diagnosing the disease if often difficult. According to the LBD Association, many doctors are unfamiliar with the disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors help with memory issues, while drugs such as carbidopa-levodopa help with mobility problems. There is no cure for the disease, but doctors can, with success, treat symptoms and improve the quality of life.
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