Warning: This article contains references to suicide

August 11 marked the eighth anniversary of Robin Williams' death.

The legendary comedian and actor committed suicide in 2014 at the age of 63.

Williams suffered from depression and was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which played a role in the "frustration" and worry Williams experienced in life, according to his son Zak Williams, who spoke last year.

on The Genius Life podcast about misdiagnosis.

It was later discovered, after the comedian's death, that he actually had Lewy body dementia.

Dad, on the eighth anniversary of your passing, I'm remembering how incredibly kind and joyful you were.

I deeply miss you, you wonderful, hairy man and will be celebrating your life today.

I love you so much!

pic.twitter.com/UBa51xeN2g

— Zak Williams (@zakwilliams) August 11, 2022

The brain disease affected Williams' thinking, memory and movement control, which hampered his career and family life, his son said on the podcast.

"There were problems with concentration that frustrated him, problems with how he felt, and on top of that, he wasn't feeling well from a neurological perspective as well."

So why was Williams misdiagnosed?

According to experts, there are many similarities between Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, writes Pop Sugar.

What is Lewy Body Dementia?

Lewy body dementia is a brain disease caused by an abnormal accumulation of proteins in masses called "Lewy bodies," according to the Mayo Clinic.

Progressive dementia leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning, independent function and may include changes in attention, visual hallucinations, sleep disturbances and slow movements.

Lewy body dementia "causes some or all of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's," according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, which may have contributed to Williams' misdiagnosis.

Symptoms such as tremors, fluctuating cognition and difficulty moving all overlap.

The Alzheimer's Association of America (AA) says the diseases may be linked to the same brain abnormalities.

How is it diagnosed?

According to the US National Institute on Aging (NIA), there is ongoing research to diagnose Lewy body dementia, but currently the only way to definitively confirm it is through a brain autopsy performed after death.

Most people diagnosed with Lewy body dementia are over 60 and it is more common in men.

A family history of the disease also increases the likelihood of developing Lewy body dementia, although it is not considered a genetic disease.

Can it be treated or cured?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Lewy body dementia, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms, the NIA says.

Behavioral and mood changes worsen as thinking skills decline, making depression, apathy, paranoia, and delusions common.

Some Alzheimer's disease medications and Parkinson's disease medications can be used to treat symptoms.

Non-drug approaches may also be helpful.

Certain lifestyle changes, such as modifying your environment and creating daily routines, can also help relieve symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, Anabel cites.

It is recommended to work with both a neurologist who specializes in dementia and a psychologist to provide emotional support.

/Telegraph/