While we have all heard about dementia and Alzheimer's disease, not many of us know about Lewy Body Dementia or LBD. While it is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, there is still lot of things that remains unknown to many. LBD is a progressive and often misdiagnosed neurological condition that affects approximately 1.4 million Americans. It is also marked by cognitive and motor symptoms that result from abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein protein in the brain. Despite its prevalence, however, it is often misdiagnosed and leads patients to see an average of three doctors over the course of two years before they are diagnosed correctly.

However, to help you out, we made this guide to navigate you through the early warnings of LBD.

What is Lewy Body Dementia?

It happens when the abnormal protein deposits known as Lewy bodies and then affect neurotransmitters and brain cell functions. It is divided in two forms:

Dementia with Lew bodies: Cognitive symptoms appear either alongside or before movement-related symptoms

Parkinson's disease dementia: Dementia develops in someone with a prior diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

These protein deposits disrupt brain function by interfering with chemical messengers and brain cell connections, leading to cognitive decline, movement issues, and behavioral changes. Recognizing the early symptoms of LBD can be challenging, but timely intervention can significantly improve the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.

What Are The 10 Early Warning Signs of LBD?

Visual Hallucinations: It happens when you see detailed, vivid visual hallucinations which involves people, animals, or objects. It occurs when a person is alert and aware that the hallucinations are not real.

Fluctuating Cognition and Alertness: It happens through dramatic variations in attention, concentration, and mental clarity within short periods. The fluctuations in cognition happen spontaneously, without any external triggers.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD): It happens when you act out dreams during REM sleep, including movements such as talking, kicking, or even leaving the bed. It can precede LBD symptoms by years or even decades and make it one of the most reliable early warning signs.

Parkinsonism: Here, the symptoms are similar to Parkinson's disease, such as muscle rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia, which is slowness of one's movement.

Extreme Sensitivity to Antipsychotic Medicine: You may have severe reaction to antipsychotic drugs, and it could worsen your confusion and sedation.

Unexplained Falls and Fainting: You experience sudden, frequent falls or faint without an obvious cause. This could also occur early in the disease and could be linked to autonomic dysfunction which affects blood pressure regulation.

Visuospatial Difficulties: This happens when you face difficulty judging distances, navigating spaces, or completing visually-based tasks. It also occurs early and could be more prominent than memory issues.

Autonomic Dysfunction: You may face problems with automatic body functions such as blood pressure regulation, temperature control and bladder function.

Depression and Anxiety: You have a persistent low mood, apathy, anxiety, and irritability that could appear before other cognitive symptoms.

Executive Function Problems: You face difficulty with planning, problem-solving, and organizing daily tasks.

Recently the US has seen a rise in the numbers of measles cases, with outbreaks being recorded in states like Texas and South Colorina. According to the South Carolina Department of Health, the measles outbreak there as reached 16 confirmed cases, according to an October 14 announcement from state health officials. This figure includes five new cases linked to students exposed in school settings, specifically at two schools with significantly low vaccination rates.

The highly contagious viral disease was first identified in the state's Upstate region in early October by the South Carolina Department of Health. The majority of cases, a dozen, are concentrated in Spartanburg County.

What Is The Reason Behind The Rise In Measles Cases?

The South Carolina Department of Health found the highly contagious virus in the Upstate region earlier in October. Most cases, 12 of them, are in Spartanburg County. Because of this, nearly 140 unvaccinated students from two elementary schools are now staying home to prevent the spread.

The five new cases were students who were already isolating at home after being exposed at school. The exposures happened at two Spartanburg County schools with very few vaccinated students: Global Academy of South Carolina and Fairforest Elementary School according to media reports.

• Global Academy, a charter school with over 600 students, reported that only 17% of students had their required shots. Experts say 95% are needed to protect the community.
• Fairforest Elementary, a public school with over 760 students, had a slightly better rate of 85%.

Officials are worried because some people who got sick were not in contact with known cases or travelers. This suggests the measles virus is spreading easily in the community and could get worse. The state plans to offer free vaccines to help stop the spread.

Is There A Decline In The Vaccination Rates?

Low vaccination rates are causing problems across the entire country. In 2025, the U.S. has seen a record of over 1,500 measles cases in 44 different outbreaks. Most of the people who got sick were not vaccinated.

The U.S. got rid of measles in 2000, meaning new cases only came from people traveling from other countries. However, because more parents are choosing not to give their children the required vaccines, the disease has come back strongly.

Measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The air can stay contaminated for up to two hours. Symptoms, which appear one to two weeks later, include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed a few days later by a red rash.

Vaccines are excellent at preventing the disease. Getting the full two-dose shot (called MMR) gives 99% protection against measles and rubella, according to the National Health Services UK. They also mention how two doses also protect 88% of people against mumps. It is usually given around a child’s first birthday and again between ages 4 and 6.

Measles can be very dangerous. About 1 in 5 people who get it will need to go to the hospital. It can cause serious problems like pneumonia, which is a major cause of death in sick children or brain swelling, which can lead to deafness or other long-term disabilities.

More Americans are waiting longer than ever to start families. In fact, birth rates among women in their early 30s have surpassed those of women in their late 20s for the seventh straight year in 2022. The number of births among women aged 40 and older is also on the rise, government data shows.

This trend challenges the long-held belief that getting pregnant becomes nearly impossible or too risky with age. However, fertility specialists say the truth is more layered. To understand it better, we spoke with Dr. Akta Bajaj, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, who helped clear up some of the biggest misconceptions.

Can Age Really Affect Your Fertility?

For many years, experts have blamed declining egg quality as the main reason for reduced fertility with age. But new findings from UC San Francisco and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco suggest that there’s more to it. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reveals that the cells and tissues surrounding the egg also play a major role in how eggs mature and how fast fertility declines.

According to Dr. Randi Goldman, Program Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwell, while fertility naturally drops with age, it’s a gradual change rather than a sudden one. Many women in their 30s are still capable of conceiving without assistance. Data shows that the odds of pregnancy in a single menstrual cycle are around 25% for women in their 20s, about 20% by age 30, and roughly 15% by age 35 — which Dr. Goldman notes is still quite reasonable.

Myths Around Age and Fertility

Dr Bajaj told us that fertility comes with its own set of facts and myths, and she told us some myths around fertility that everyone should note:

Myth 1: Fertility Declines Only After 35

Fact: Fertility doesn’t suddenly drop at 35, it starts to dip slowly in the late 20s and early 30s. By the mid-30s, this decline becomes more noticeable, and after 37, it tends to speed up. While chances of conception decrease gradually, many women in their 30s still conceive naturally and have healthy pregnancies. It may take a little longer, but it’s often still achievable.

Myth 2: Modern Medicine Can Reverse Age-Related Fertility Decline

Fact: Treatments like IVF can improve the chances of pregnancy but can’t completely undo the effects of aging. As a woman ages, egg quality drops, which affects embryo growth and lowers IVF success rates. IVF relies on a woman’s own eggs, and if those eggs are older, embryos may not develop as well. Donor eggs can increase success rates, but no medical procedure can reverse the natural aging of the ovaries.

Myth 3: Men’s Age Doesn’t Matter

Fact: Men also experience age-related fertility changes, though more slowly. Sperm count, movement, and DNA quality begin to decline after 40, which can make conception harder and slightly raise the risk of miscarriage or certain developmental disorders. The risk remains small but becomes more visible as men get older.

Myth 4: You Can Always Freeze Eggs and Conceive Later

Fact: Egg freezing gives women flexibility but is not a guaranteed path to pregnancy. Success largely depends on the age at which eggs are frozen. The ideal time is before 35 when eggs are typically healthier. Freezing eggs at an older age can result in fewer viable embryos and lower chances of success. It’s a helpful option, but not a sure solution.

Myth 5: If You’re Healthy, Age Doesn’t Matter

Fact: Good health supports fertility but can’t completely overcome the effects of aging. Regular exercise, nutritious eating, and avoiding smoking or heavy drinking can help reproductive health, but they don’t stop the biological changes that occur in eggs and sperm as we age.

In short, while age does play a role in fertility, it doesn’t mean pregnancy is impossible after your 30s. Experts agree that understanding your body and seeking timely guidance can make all the difference when planning parenthood later in life.

New research suggests that mothers who give birth by C-section (cesarean delivery) are more likely to have two major problems afterward: severe pain that disrupts sleep and daily activities, and a higher chance of developing sleep problems.

This study, presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting, highlights a crucial issue. People often forget how important sleep is when a mother is recovering. Sleep is key to a new mother's mental and physical health. The severe pain and lack of sleep linked to C-sections can cause big issues like postpartum depression, trouble thinking and remembering things, and extreme tiredness. All of this can make it harder for the mother to bond with her baby and have good relationships with family.

What Is A C-Section Birth?

According to Mayo Clinic, a C-section aka (cesarean delivery), is a surgery used to deliver a baby. It involves making surgical cuts (incisions) in the mother's belly and uterus to take the baby out.

A C-section may be planned ahead of time if the mother has certain complications during pregnancy, or if she has already had a C-section before. However, for a mother's first baby, the decision to do a C-section is usually made after labor has already started.

If you are pregnant, understanding the reasons for a C-section and what to expect during recovery can help you feel more prepared. Health professionals might recommend a C-section for several important reasons.

A C-section may be needed if labor stalls, the baby is under stress, or is in an unusual position (breech/transverse). Other reasons include carrying multiples, problems like placenta previa or cord prolapse, a physical blockage, the mother's serious health issues, or a past C-section.

How Is Health Affected After Childbirth?

The research included two main parts: talking to mothers (qualitative analysis) and analyzing a large database (quantitative analysis). For the first part, researchers interviewed 41 new mothers about their pain and sleep. They found a striking difference based on the delivery method:

Over two-thirds of mothers who had a C-section (both planned and unplanned) reported severe pain that made it hard to sleep and do daily tasks.

In comparison, only 8% of mothers who had a vaginal birth reported this level of severe, disruptive pain.

Can You Develop A Sleeping Disorder After C-Section?

For the second part of the study, researchers looked at a national insurance database containing information from more than 1.5 million mothers who gave birth between 2008 and 2021.

This analysis showed that mothers who had a C-section were 16% more likely to be diagnosed with a new sleep disorder (such as insomnia, sleep deprivation, or sleep apnea) between one month and one year after delivery, compared to those who delivered vaginally.

The lead author, Moe Takenoshita, M.B.B.Ch., from Stanford University, stressed the importance of managing pain well, especially for C-section recovery, since untreated pain worsens sleep. To help improve sleep, mothers can try several measures:

• Manage pain adequately with medication.
• Exercise regularly (as soon as it’s safe to do so).
• Sleep when the baby sleeps (napping during the day).
• Avoid caffeine or alcohol late in the day.
• Relax before bed with activities like taking a bath or practicing deep breathing.

Dr. Takenoshita noted that about one-third of all U.S. births are C-sections. She advised that anyone planning a C-section should understand the link to more severe pain and a higher risk of sleep problems. She urged all new mothers with sleep issues to discuss their concerns with their doctor for advice or a referral to a specialist.