NEW YORK, NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 -- Licensed clinical psychologist and author Dr. Patricia A. Farrell has published a new article on her Patreon platform, Dr. Farrell Unplugged, offering readers a clear and compassionate look at Lewy body dementia (LBD), the progressive brain disease that ended the life of media pioneer Ted Turner at age 87.

Turner, who revealed his LBD diagnosis in 2018, died on May 6, 2026, after nearly a decade of living with the disease. Actor Robin Williams also had LBD, confirmed after his death in 2014. Despite being the second most common form of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease, LBD remains widely misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed, often for more than a year after symptoms first appear.

The new article, titled "When the Mind Starts to Slip: What You Need to Know About Lewy Body Dementia," walks readers through what LBD is, how it differs from Alzheimer's, who is most at risk, and why diagnosis is so difficult. It also covers the current state of treatment and the clinical research that may bring the first LBD-specific therapies within reach.

"This is a disease that touches more than a million American families, and most of them have spent months, sometimes years, trying to get a name for what they're seeing," said Dr. Patricia A. Farrell. "My goal is to give readers the kind of plain, honest information that helps them ask better questions and get better care."

The article draws on more than a dozen peer-reviewed sources, including the fourth consensus report of the Dementia with Lewy Bodies Consortium and the latest Phase 2 clinical trial results published in Alzheimer's and Dementia in 2025. It is written for a general audience with no medical background required.

Dr. Farrell noted that Lewy body dementia carries unique dangers that make proper diagnosis urgent, including a life-threatening sensitivity to certain common medications used in other forms of dementia. Without the correct diagnosis, patients can be harmed by treatments that would otherwise be considered routine.

The article is available now exclusively on the Dr. Farrell Unplugged Patreon platform at patreon.com/drfarrellunplugged.

"LBD is a disease that steals someone slowly, changing not just memory but personality, movement, sleep, and the ability to trust one's own perceptions. Families deserve to understand what they're facing."

-- Dr. Patricia A. Farrell

About the Article

"When the Mind Starts to Slip: What You Need to Know About Lewy Body Dementia" is a 1,200-word research-backed article published on Dr. Farrell Unplugged, the Patreon platform of Dr. Patricia A. Farrell. It covers the definition, symptoms, diagnostic challenges, current treatments, and emerging clinical research surrounding Lewy body dementia, including two Phase 2 trials completed in 2024. It includes 12 peer-reviewed and institutional references in APA 7th edition format.

About Dr. Patricia A. Farrell

Dr. Patricia A. Farrell is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and health science communicator with decades of experience translating complex medical and psychological research into accessible content for general audiences. She writes a regular blog at Medium.com and hosts the Dr. Farrell Unplugged platform on Patreon, covering psychology, science, health, culture, and public policy. She is the author of multiple works of fiction published under the pen name P.A. Farrell and is widely recognized for her accessible, evidence-based writing on mental health and neurological disease. Dr. Farrell is based in New Jersey.