The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) provides information about what can – and cannot – be concluded from these reports.

The autopsy indicated the presence of ‘diffuse Lewy body dementia’ in the brain of Williams. This is more commonly called ‘diffuse Lewy body disease’ which reflects the biological disease process in the brain.

“The use of the term dementia in the neuropathology report should not be inferred to mean that dementia was observed during life,” warns Dennis Dickson, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. and member of the LBDA Scientific Advisory Council.

Lewy bodies are misfolded protein deposits found in the brains of individuals with several different disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

According to his wife, Robin Williams was battling “the early stages of Parkinson's disease” before his death. In early PD, Lewy bodies are generally limited in distribution, but in DLB, the Lewy bodies are spread widely throughout the brain, as was the case with Robin Williams.

Dr. Dickson, who has reviewed the autopsy and coroner’s report, further states, “Williams was given a clinical diagnosis of PD and treated for motor symptoms. The report confirms he experienced depression, anxiety and paranoia, which may occur in either Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies.”