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  • Dementia Led to Robin Williams’ Suicide, Says His Widow, But What Is Lewy Body Dementia?

    Dementia may have been a contributing factor in beloved actor Robin Williams’ decision to take his own life last year.

    According to Williams’ widow, the actor was suffering from Lewy body dementia, which can lead to devastating symptoms that include vivid hallucinations and cognitive impairment.

    In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Susan Williams said she decided to speak out on her late husband’s condition to raise awareness about dementia and the devastating effects it had on her husband in the weeks before he died.

    “Lewy body dementia is what killed Robin,” Williams said. “It’s what took his life and that’s what I spent the last year trying to get to the bottom of, what took my husband’s life.”

    According to LifeScience.com, Lewy body dementia results after specific protein bodies cause problems with thinking, mood, movement and behavior.

    It is fairly common and currently affects about 1 million people in the United States, according to the National Institute on Aging. Typically, the disease strikes people at age 50 or older.

    An autopsy revealed last year that the beloved Dead Poet’s Society actor suffered from early-stage Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Susan Williams said the doctors who examined the autopsy reports said the disease progression was one of the worst they had ever seen.

    Dr. Dan Kaufer, director at the University of North Carolina Memory Disorders Program, told ABC News the disease can cause fear and extreme anxiety in the patient.

    “With many different presentations, you can see dramatic effects in thinking, emotions and behavior,” Kaufer said.

    Sufferers of this type of dementia can also have extremely graphic hallucinations that can include smell, as well as visual hallucinations.

    While it can be difficult to diagnose while a patient is alive, it can be detected following death, as was the case with Robin Williams. The autopsy of Williams’ brain showed Lewy bodies, as well as other brain changes that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to his autopsy report last year.

    Susan Williams said her husband also had depression, anxiety and paranoia, and that his dementia symptoms had begun to worsen shortly before his death in August 2014.

    “He was keeping it together the best that he could, but the last month he could not,” she said. “It’s like the dam broke.”

    As her husband’s dementia symptoms worsened, Susan Williams said she believes he just wanted to take control of his life and his future.

    “I think he was just saying no and I don’t blame him one bit,” Williams said of her husband’s suicide.

  • Susan Williams Says Depression Didn’t Kill Husband Robin Williams, Little-Known Form of Dementia Killed Him

    Susan Williams, the widow of comedian and screen legend Robin Williams, wants people to know that depression isn’t what killed her husband.

    Robin Williams hanged himself in the bedroom of the home he shared with Susan Williams back in August of 2014. An autopsy was conducted following his death. Since then, Susan has worked closely with doctors to understand what killed him.

    Robin Williams was suffering from a debilitating brain disease called Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia or Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

    “It was not depression that killed Robin,” Susan says in an interview with People magazine. “Depression was one of let’s call it 50 symptoms and it was a small one.”

    DLB is the “second most common neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s and causes fluctuations in mental status, hallucinations and impairment of motor function. The disease started taking its toll on Williams in the last year before his death, by way of its “whack-a-mole”-like symptoms which included heightened levels of anxiety, delusions and impaired movement.” It is misdiagnosed frequently.

    “They present themselves like a pinball machine,” Susan Williams says. “You don’t know exactly what you’re looking at.”

    Robin Williams’ symptoms were worsening rapidly. In addition to crippling anxiety attacks, he suffered from physical imbalances–one that left him bloodied and banged up when he misjudged the width of a door.

    It wasn’t until an autopsy was performed on the actor that doctors were able to pinpoint what really killed him.

    “I know now the doctors, the whole team was doing exactly the right things,” Susan Williams says. “It’s just that this disease was faster than us and bigger than us. We would have gotten there eventually.”

    Even though it’s too late to save Robin Williams, his widow hopes she can utilize some of what she has learned to help others with loved ones who are suffering from DLB.

    “I’ve spent this last year trying to find out what killed Robin. To understand what we were fighting, what we were in the trenches fighting and one of the doctors said, ‘Robin was very aware that he was losing his mind and there was nothing he could do about it,’” she says.

    “This was a very unique case and I pray to God that it will shed some light on Lewy bodies for the millions of people and their loved ones who are suffering with it,” she adds. “Because we didn’t know. He didn’t know.”

    Kudos to Susan Williams for helping others navigate the still-muddy waters of this disease, and for letting Robin Williams’ fans know he didn’t intentionally leave this life because he was too depressed to bear it. He left for reasons far beyond his control.

  • Robin Williams: Lewy Body Dementia Contributed to Suicide

    Robin Williams was reportedly suffering from Lewy body dementia at the time of his death and it likely played a role in him taking his life.

    The Mayo Clinic says “Lewy body dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with Lewy body dementia may have hallucinations—which may appear in the form of animals, objects or deceased people from their past. Conversations with the aforementioned may occur.”

    According to a report from TMZ, patients suffering from Parkinson’s often have Lewy body dementia, too. And those suffering from both diseases often suffer adverse reactions to some Parkinson’s medication.

    Robin Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, told authorities following her husband’s death that he complained about how the Parkinson’s meds made him feel in the days leading up to his suicide. Now she and her family agree–as do Robin Williams’ doctors–that Lewy body dementia played a strong role in the actor’s passing.

    Last Friday, autopsy reports divulged there were neither illegal drugs nor alcohol in Williams’ system at the time of his death. The only drugs found were those prescribed by his doctors.

    Robin Williams died by hanging in his home in northern California on August 11th. He was 63 years old.

    Do you suppose the knowledge that a medical reason likely contributed to Williams’ death will in any way lighten his family’s load? While it was known the actor and comedian was depressed in the weeks leading up to his death, the presence of Lewy body dementia might indicate he had little to no control over his actions. While this finding won’t make their loss any easier, it might lessen some of the feelings of abandonment and anger that some survivors of suicide experience.

  • Robin Williams: Publicist Slams Rumors of Financial Difficulties

    Robin Williams‘s publicist vehemently denies the late actor was experiencing money difficulties before his death.

    “Robin had no financial problems,” said Williams’s rep, Mara Buxbaum, to The Wrap. “We should be blessed to have Robin’s financial status.”

    The Oscar-winning actor was found dead Monday in his home in Tiburon, California. The cause of death was ruled suicide by hanging, according to Marin County Sheriff. Buxbaum, president of ID-PR, confirmed he had been “battling severe depression of late.”

    Since his death, a number of media outlets have speculated that Williams was having financial woes based on a September 2013 interview.

    “The idea of having a steady job is appealing,” Williams told Parade on his return to television. “I have two [other] choices: go on the road doing stand-up, or do small, independent movies working almost for scale [minimum union pay]. The movies are good, but a lot of times they don’t even have distribution. There are bills to pay. My life has downsized, in a good way. I’m selling the ranch up in Napa. I just can’t afford it anymore.”

    During the interview, Williams said his divorces where hitting his wallet hard.

    “Well, [I didn’t lose] all [my money],” said Buxbaum. “Lost enough. Divorce is expensive. I used to joke they were going to call it ‘all the money,’ but they changed it to ‘alimony.’ It’s ripping your heart out through your wallet. Are things good with my exes? Yes. But do I need that lifestyle? No.”

    According to Buxbaum, it was said as a joke.

    “Robin often said things in jest, and sometimes it just doesn’t translate in print,” she said.

    “There were plenty of times over the years that Robin was offered to do TV,” she continued. “Robin wanted to do The Crazy Ones because of [show creator] David Kelley and the material. That’s why he took the show… not because he needed the money.

    “I understand the desire to understand the ‘Why’… It’s not going to happen. The better thing to do is to try to understand severe depression. That isn’t going to be answered, and you can speculate all you want.”

    Forbes estimated Williams’s net worth to be around $50 million.

    Willams is survived by wife Susan Schneider and three adult children from two previous marriages. Daughter Zelda is 25 and sons Zachary and Cody are 31 and 22, respectively.

    In 2009, the actor set up a trust for his children, which was set up to be paid out in thirds when they reached the ages of 21, 25, and 30.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Robin Williams: What Happened The Night He Died?

    Since learning of the death of actor and comedian Robin Williams, fans from around the world have joined together to both mourn and remember the beloved funny man.

    The 63-year-old was found dead on Monday morning at his home in Tiburon, California.

    Details surrounding his death were at first sketchy. The only thing known for certain is that the actor was reported to have passed away due to “suspected suicide”.

    Days later, we have an official statement regarding the final moments of Williams’s life.

    [Warning: The following details may be upsetting to some readers.]

    Marin Sheriff’s Lt. Keith Boyd shared details about what happened to Williams on Tuesday at a press conference.

    Boyd stated that Williams’s wife Susan Schneider had gone to bed at around 10:30 pm on Sunday evening. The actor retired to a separate bedroom in the couple’s home.

    It was clear that Schneider did not suspect there was anything wrong when she woke the next morning. She said that she thought her husband was still asleep when she left their home.

    It was Williams’s assistant who discovered the deceased actor. He was worried about Williams and went to check on him. When he arrived at the house, the assistant found Williams’s “lifeless body in the bedroom”.

    The sheriff said that Williams died from asphyxia brought on by hanging himself with a belt. The assistant said that rigor mortis had begun to set in and that the body was “cold to the touch”.

    Williams was officially pronounced dead at 12:02 pm on Monday.

    An examination of his body found that the actor had several wounds on his wrist, thought to be self-inflicted injuries caused by a pocket knife found in William’s bedroom.

    The sheriff would not say whether Williams left behind a note or any other message to explain his decision to end his life. It was later reported that there was no note.

    The actor had recently entered rehab to cope with symptoms of depression.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ben Stiller Reacts to Robin Williams’ Passing

    Ben Stiller is just one of hundreds of Hollywood celebrities reacting to the tragic and untimely passing of actor and comedian Robin Williams. Stiller first met the Mrs. Doubtfire star when he was just thirteen years old, when Robin’s biggest claim to fame was Mork & Mindy.

    “I met Robin when I was 13 at the Improv. I was there with my parents who were maybe performing and it was crowded and I heard this voice behind me saying ‘Stay close to your mother you’ll be safe! Stay close to your mother you’ll be safe!” Ben Stiller said in a written interview with Rolling Stone. “I turned around and it was Robin. For a 13 year old who was a huge Mork & Mindy fan, it was sort of like the end of the world. I never forgot it.

    Stiller and Williams starred together in the Night at the Museum films–the third of which won’t be released until this coming December.

    “So working with him years later I always had this little voice inside of me going ‘You are acting with Robin Williams! This is the coolest thing ever!’” he added. “I never got over being a fan. I think most people my age have the same feeling – that he and Steve Martin and Bill Murray sort of represented what it meant to be funny.”

    Ben Stiller was blessed with way more than just being a fan and perfecting his craft as a result of his time with Robin Williams. He was beyond privileged to have known his heart–and that gift is even more of a treasure now that he’s gone.

    “His kindness and generosity is what I think of. How kind he was to anyone who wanted to connect with him. And he could not help but be funny all the time. He would do something as long as it would keep you laughing,” he writes. “He made many, many film crews laugh out loud before the audiences ever saw it. He made such a big impact on the world. So there is the man, and his talent and I think in his case both were extraordinary.”

    Ben Stiller is grieving the loss of a talented man, but more importantly he is grieving the passing of someone near and dear to his heart. It’s clear that Robin Williams made a profound impact on many parts of the Meet the Parents star’s life.

    Image via YouTube

  • Robin Williams Dead: Hollywood Joins Family in Mourning

    Robin Williams died on Monday at the age of 63. His death was likely a suicide.

    “He has been battling severe depression of late,” Williams’ media representative Mara Buxbaum told CNN. “This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”

    According to a statement from the Marin County, California, Sheriff’s office, coroner investigators suspect “the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia.”

    “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken,” Robin Williams’ wife Susan Schneider said. “On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

    It wasn’t so long ago that Williams was in a rehab facility, dealing with depression and some of the issues that could have caused a relapse in his drug and alcohol recovery.

    Fellow comedian and actor Steve Martin tweeted his shock at the passing of Robin Williams.

    Ellen DeGeneres weighed in on the tragedy.

    Former CNN host Larry King said he would he remember Williams as “a genuine caring guy. Not just a funny man, but a guy who cared about people.”

    Happy Days star Henry Winkler said it was “unimaginable that this is the reality today, that this incredible human being, incredible, delicate, funny, dramatic human being is gone.”

    Many other celebrities including Ben Stiller, Conan O’Brien, Wanda Sykes, Morgan Fairchild, Dylan McDermott, and more tweeted their sorrow over the loss of Robin Williams.

    Robin Williams’ big start came on TV when he starred opposite actress Pam Dawber in Mork & Mindy. The two recently reunited during an episode of Williams’ most recent TV show, The Crazy Ones. His film credits are numerous and include Dead Poets Society, What Dreams May Come, Mrs. Doubtfire, Patch Adams, Insomnia, Bicentennial Man, Goodwill Hunting, and Awakenings–to name just a few.

    Hollywood has indeed lost a legend, but more importantly Robin Williams’ family has lost a husband and father. May they be the recipient of many prayers as well as the privacy they have asked for in order to grieve this tragedy that has befallen them.

    Image via Twitter

  • Robin Williams Dead At 63, Suspected Suicide

    Robin Williams was an amazing comedian and actor and appeared in many television shows and movies.

    He was found dead in his apartment on Monday, August 11, 2014.

    Police did not offer any details about his death, but said that they believe Williams committed suicide and that the cause of death was asphyxia.

    “At this time, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death may be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made,” Lt. Keith Boyd, the Marin Country assistant chief deputy coroner, said in a statement.

    Williams had battled drug and alcohol addiction throughout much of his life and was also struggling with severe depression. He checked himself into rehab in July and had hoped to get help for his problems.

    A rep for Williams said, “This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”

    His wife also made a statement about his death saying,

    “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken,” his wife Susan Schneider said in a statement.

    “On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

    Williams was a talented actor and is best known for his roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Patch Adams, Jack and the television show Mork and Mindy.

    His fans and colleagues were devastated to hear that Williams had passed awa and many of them made statements about his death on Twitter.

    Robin Williams will always be remembered for his amazing talent and his kindness. He will be missed by his family, fans and colleagues.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons