Foremost authorities on the topic of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Helen and Jim Whitworth are now announcing the release of their third book, ‘Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson’s and Other Lewy Body Disorders’ .

Mesa, AZ -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/06/2014 --Although Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is the second-most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s, the condition is largely unknown to the general public.

After James A. Whitworth’s first wife died of LBD in 2003, he made it his life’s mission to raise awareness about this form of dementia. His second wife, Helen Buell Whitworth is an established author and holds a Masters in Psychology. Together, the couple has released two books and often educates on the subject of LBD. Their second book, ‘A Caregiver’s Guide to Lewy Body Dementia’ is the top selling book on Amazon.com about LBD.

In their latest work, ‘Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson’s and Other Lewy Body Disorders’, the Whitworths have directed their attention to those at risk of LBD, particularly anyone with Parkinson's disease (PD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Written in the Whitworth’s signature easy-to-read style, the book is filled with personal experiences, a multitude of suggestions for therapeutic alternatives to Lewy-dangerous drugs and over a dozen pages of resources.

“Until recently, the cognitive issues of Parkinson’s have been overlooked by most of the medical community,” says Helen Buell Whitworth. “However, this is changing. Neurologists and researchers are recognizing these issues as every bit as important as mobility and often more distressing.”

In the book’s forward, Dr. James Leverenz, Director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health states, “As a physician that works in this field, I am often frustrated by comments that ‘there is nothing that you can do.’ That couldn’t be further from the truth, and the Whitworth’s give you the tools to help manage the disease and its effects on the person suffering with it and those around that person.”

The Whitworths empathize with the many PD families who feel frightened by the idea that Parkinson’s disease and LBD share a history and that Parkinson’s dementia is a form of LBD. This book answers that fear with the power of knowledge and the strength of hope. Describing the symptoms that warn of impending LBD, the book also informs families how to use therapeutic alternatives to drugs – recommending a healthy lifestyle, stress management, better communication, and a positive outlook to extend awareness and maintain a better quality of life.

James Whitworth is frank about his relief that the medical community has begun to pay attention to the cognitive issues of Parkinson’s disease, rather than just the mobility.

“An example is the 2013 Annual International Congress on Movement Disorders and Parkinson’s (ICMDP) which reported that there is a much greater incidence of mental deficits in Parkinson’s than previously thought,” says the author. “This is a hopeful sign that more medical professionals are taking notice of these issues.”

Helen Whitworth adds, “Our third book also alerts anyone at risk for LBD about drug sensitivity. LBD can make a person react to a normal dose of certain drugs as though it were an overdose, with long-lasting muscle problems, lowered cognition and/or heavy sedation, or increased LBD symptoms such as hallucinations.”

Meticulously researched and compassionately written, ‘Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson’s and Other Lewy Body Disorders’ continues the Whitworths tradition of fostering awareness of LBD in the United States and beyond.

‘Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson’s Disease and Other Lewy Body Disorders’ can be preordered on the Whitworth’s website, www.lbdtools.com, where you can find Whitworth’s other books and many useful tools. Shipment is scheduled for mid-June or earlier. The book will also be available on Amazon.com in print and Kindle formats.

About The Whitworths
The Whitworths live in Mesa, AZ and travel in the summer to Washington where they have family. They are willing to present their program in the Phoenix area and anywhere along their travel route.

Although Helen has a medical background, neither she nor Jim speaks with medical authority. Rather, they both bring you a well-informed caregiver's point of view.