Vision in Lewy Body Dementia

About this Webinar:

Please join us for the next episode of our Community Webinar Series, Vision in Lewy body dementia. Four specialists from LBDA’s Research Center of Excellence at the University of Colorado will delve into how visual changes can manifest, how they can be tested, potential interventions and therapies to help.

Vision changes are common in people with Lewy and can include trouble reading and focusing gaze, changes in color vision, impaired navigation and spatial reasoning, and visual hallucinations. These changes in vision can affect daily life and independence, including important tasks like driving. The presence of visual symptoms can also help with diagnosis of LBD, distinguishing it from other forms of dementia, and should be evaluated in any person experiencing cognitive changes. 

The webinar will feature presentations on several vision-related topics and will be followed by a Q&A session. 

• Introduction and Overview of Lewy Terminology with Samantha Holden, MD, MS  
• Vision in Lewy Body Dementia: Looking from the Brain with Victoria Pelak, MD  
• Vision in Lewy Body Dementia: Looking from the Eye with Erin Van Dok, OD  
• Visual Occupational Therapy for Lewy Body Dementia: Function and Safety with Karen Hookstadt, OTR/L

Register today: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sH-XLp5uQ_ehFb0KmZCBBA

Introducing Your Speakers: 

Dr. Samantha Holden

Cognitive and Movement Disorders Neurologist , University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Samantha Holden, MD, MS, FAAN is a cognitive and movement disorders neurologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She evaluates and manages patients with conditions that affect cognition, behavior, and movement, including dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia. She is the co-director of the Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence at the University of Colorado. She is an Associate Professor of Neurology and the Vice Chair for Outpatient Neurology Services at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Holden obtained her B.S. in Neural Science from New York University and her M.D. from Stony Brook University School of Medicine. She completed her medical internship and neurology residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Victoria Pelak

Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Dr. Victoria S. Pelak is a Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (UCSOM) and is the Principal Investigator of the Lewy Body Dementia Research Center of Excellence at UCSOM. She runs a support group for those with signs and symptoms of visual dysfunction due to Lewy body dementias or Alzheimer’s disease and provides clinical evaluations to help diagnose and manage the visual symptoms related to many neurologic conditions, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.

Karen Hookstadt, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist, University of Colorado

Karen Hookstadt is an occupational therapist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of neurological diagnoses. Karen graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago and started her career at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (known as Shirley Ryan Institute) treating Stroke, Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injuries. Karen moved to Colorado accepting a management position at Spalding Rehabilitation for 20 years. In the last 7 years, she has worked at the University of Colorado treating Stroke, Brain Injury, Parkinson Disease and Multiple Sclerosis specializing in physical, visual, cognitive dysfunction and completing clinical driving evaluations.

Erin Van Dok, OD

Optometrist, University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology

Erin Van Dok, OD, is an optometrist at the UC Health Eye Center, which is part of the University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology. She enjoys providing eye and vision care to individuals with ocular health issues. Dr. Van Dok partners with neuro-ophthalmologist Victoria Pelak, MD in a sub-specialty clinic to improve delivery of vision care and outcomes for individuals with movement disorders. She makes every effort to help my patients understand their eyes and visual function.