This comparison of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) was last updated in November 2020.
The author notes the importance of a clear diagnosis, especially for LBD:
[K]nowing the diagnosis is of great value, because it may alert clinicians to the potentially hazardous effects that might be produced in LBD patients by high-potency antipsychotics, a class of medications still often used (despite recognition of their limited benefits and potential adverse effects) to treat behavioral disturbances in AD. For this reason, even if for no others, identifying LBD is already a very worthwhile endeavor. In time, diagnostic clarity should become even more valuable as future treatments are developed to target LBD specifically.
And the author indicates that some symptoms of LBD make this disorder particularly stressful for caregivers:
LBD patients can present special concerns because their ability to function changes from day to day. Their falls and hallucinations add further stress and risk.