This is the abstract of a Japanese case report on a woman with probable DLB, based on a SPECT and myocardial scintigraphy. She was catatonic and refused to eat due to a delusion and visual hallucination. The catatonia and visual hallucination were resolved through an antidepressant (amitryptyline; brand name is Elavil) and a muscle relaxant (lorazepam; brand name is Ativan). It seems that the authors are saying that the catatonia was caused by the occipital hypoperfusion of DLB and this hypoperfusion was reversed through medication.
Robin


Internal Medicine. 2011;50(4):363-6. Epub 2011 Feb 15.

Amitriptyline and Lorazepam Improved Catatonia and Occipital Hypoperfusion in a Patient with DLB.

Maeda K, Ogawa N.
Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Shiga Hospital, Japan.

Abstract
A 76-year-old woman presented with catatonia, refusal to eat due to delusion, and visual hallucination. Single photon emission computed tomography showed remarkable occipital hypoperfusion and frontal hyperperfusion. (123)I metaiodobenzyl guanidine myocardial scintigraphy revealed decreased uptake. She was diagnosed as probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Intravenous or oral L-dopa had no effect on catatonia. Amitriptyline and lorazepam improved catatonia and visual hallucination. Cerebral blood flow of the frontal and occipital lobes seemed to be normalized. Occipital hypoperfusion is one of the features of DLB. Although the mechanism of perfusion abnormality in DLB remains to be clarified, our case suggested that it might be reversible.

PubMed ID#: 2132577 (see pubmed.gov for this abstract only)

Sounds good! I hope that this case study inspires lots of folowup research.

Maybe if we stand them on their heads for a few minutes a day it would help!

I believe lorazepam is an antianxiety agent, not a muscle relaxant.

It's both.

That's because it's sedating.

In this case, the woman was catatonia so fall prevention was not top of the mind.

You don't worry about falling risks for catotonic persons?

I'm always puzzled by people who worry that a drug may be habit-forming, when the patient is 91 and unable to function without it. The problem with developing this habit is ... ??

Carefully considering the risks and side effects of drugs is important, but, gee, I think context counts. At 65 I think I don't have to worry about drugs that are potentially harmful to unborn children, right?