In Lewy body dementia, problems such as hallucinations and delusions often arise. In some cases, these may present as ‘delusions of misidentification’, of which Capgras syndrome is one type. In Capgras syndrome, a person believes that a friend, spouse, parent, or other close family member has been replaced by an identical-looking impostor. This can be very distressing for both the person with Lewy body dementia as well as the person who is believed to be the imposter.

We recently held an online event focusing on Capgras syndrome, with speakers Professor Iracema Leroi, clinical academic at the Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin and a consultant geriatric psychiatrist at St James’ Hospital, Dublin, and Rachel Thompson, Consultant Admiral Nurse for Lewy body dementia.

The event was very popular with lots of questions and discussion.  We recorded the event and the video is now available on our YouTube channel here for repeat viewing.

This event followed a previous webinar on the wider topic of hallucinations and changes in visual perception, at which we were joined by Professor John-Paul Taylor from Newcastle University, which focused on this difficult range of symptoms and how best to manage them as a person living with dementia or a carer.  The recording of that event is available here, and we have produced a leaflet with information and advice, which was developed in conjunction with current and former carers.