In August 2014, the world mourned the loss of Robin Williams, a beloved figure in Hollywood, renowned for his comedic genius and versatility in dramatic roles.
Williams had firmly established himself as one of Hollywood's most significant actors, skillfully navigating between comedy and drama. However, at the age of 63, on August 14, 2014, the world was left in shock as the beloved star of "Patch Adams" tragically took his own life.
Following this tragic event, speculations swirled around the reasons behind his decision, with discussions of severe depression and even a potential resurgence of old addictions as possible triggers. However, clarity began to emerge when the results of the autopsy conducted on Williams came to light.
During his lifetime, Williams had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, but it was revealed that he had been silently battling another neurodegenerative disorder known as Dementia with Lewy bodies (LDB). This ailment turned the final days of his life into an excruciating ordeal.
Today, both Susan Schneider, Robin Williams' widow, and his son Zak, are determined to debunk false speculations about his death while shedding light on the little-known illness that afflicted him. They have revealed that the comedian experienced memory loss, paranoia, anxiety attacks, and other distressing symptoms, with no precise diagnosis of what was afflicting him.
Zak Williams, the son of the Oscar-winning actor for "Good Will Hunting," emphasized that the misdiagnosis of his father's condition left him deeply uncomfortable and frustrated in his final years. The initial diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements, failed to fully align with Williams' actual experiences. According to Zak, his father struggled with focus issues and neurological discomfort, causing him great distress. Errors in medical information and the administration of incorrect medications could have further exacerbated the situation.
The mental illness Williams faced also compromised his memory and improvisational skills, adding to his anguish. He couldn't bear it when his brilliant mind failed him.
In the documentary "Robin's Wish," which explores the actor's final years, Susan Schneider recounts a poignant incident during the filming of the third installment of "Night at the Museum." Williams called her in a state of panic because he couldn't remember a few lines from his script. It was an ordeal he had never encountered before, as he was renowned for his sharp wit and quick thinking.
In an interview with The Guardian, Williams' wife discussed her response when the autopsy results revealed the extent of her husband's illness. "After the autopsy, the doctors told me: 'Are you surprised that your husband had Lewy bodies throughout his brain and in his brain stem?' I didn't know what Lewy bodies were, but I said, 'No, I'm not surprised.' The fact that something had infiltrated every part of my husband's brain made sense of his behavior," she shared.
Dementia with Lewy bodies is a neurodegenerative disease, the second most common after Alzheimer's. It involves the development of protein deposits called 'Lewy bodies' in nerve cells of the brain, impacting regions responsible for thinking, memory, and movement. This condition can lead to hallucinations, movement disorders, sleep disturbances, apathy, and depression. Importantly, a definitive diagnosis of LDB can only be made postmortem when Lewy bodies, appearing as dark spots on neurons, can be observed.
