Robin Williams rocked the world when he committed suicide last August 11, 2014 in his home in Tiburon, Marin County. He was 63 years old. The initial report said that he committed suicide and died due to Asphyxia. According to a report by TMZ, Robin Williams has a condition called Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), the second most common type of progressive dementia next to Alzheimer's disease.
His wife confirmed that before his death, he complained on issues regarding his medications like hallucinations and other symptoms. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease because of the symptoms he is manifesting. The autopsy report, however, revealed that LBD is the cause of his hallucinations.
One common side effect of this condition is the presence of hallucinations and suicide thoughts. The wife said the he often complained of hallucinations before his untimely death. This condition causes deterioration in mental abilities and visual hallucinations that may lead to unusual behaviors. There are noted fluctuations in alertness and attention. Motor problems may also be present that is why it is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease.
Robin Williams was known to combat alcoholism and drug use. In fact, he was admitted to Hazelden rehabilitation facility only weeks before he died. Many rumors emerged about his death assuming that depression and drug use may be the culprit of his suicide. The latest autopsy report says he has no traces of alcohol or illegal drugs in his body. However, he is under treatment for depression.
LBD is characterized by having symptoms of visual hallucinations, movement disorders, decline in cognitive functions, difficulty in sleeping, decline in alertness and even depression. The exact cause of this illness is still unknown but there are studies that link it with other degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Lewy bodies are also present in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease and subsequently, it contains protein linked to Parkinson's. Risk factors of LBD include people who are more than 60 years old, male and having a family history of dementia.
