Title
Lewy Body Dementia Awareness Month Proclamation
Memorandum
Proclamation
Lewy Body Dementias Awareness Month
October 1, 2012
WHEREAS, 1.3 million Americans are affected by Lewy Body Dementias (LBD), making it the second most common form of degenerative dementia, second only to Alzheimer's disease in prevalence; and
WHEREAS, the most common symptoms of LBD include problems with memory and thinking, hallucinations, unpredictable changes in concentration and attention, a sleep disorder causing people to seemingly act out their dreams, and Parkinson-like symptoms, such as muscle rigidity or stiffness, a shuffling gait, tremors, or slowness of movement; and
WHEREAS, ignorance of this disease is widespread, even among physicians, meaning that patients are frequently misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease; and
WHEREAS, early and accurate diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementias is essential because medications appropriate for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease can have serious negative effects on LBD patients.
NOW THEREFORE, I, John Hieftje, Mayor of the City of Ann Arbor, do hereby proclaim
October 2012 as LEWY BODY DEMENTIAS AWARENESS MONTH and recognize the importance of increasing public awareness of this disease and its early and accurate diagnosis.
I hereby set my hand and seal
This 1st day of October, 2012
________________________
John Hieftje, Mayor