Type of dementia may have contributed to Robin Williams' suicide

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Actor and comedian Robin Williams appeared to suffer from an Alzheimer's-like condition called Lewy body dementia before he committed suicide in August.

TMZ reports the disease may have contributed to Williams' decision to end his own life.

Lewy bodies are abnormal proteins that can build up inside brain cells, affecting memory and motor control. Symptoms include hallucinations, depression and Parkinson's like movements.

Lewy body dementia, also known as LBD, affects about 1.3 million Americans and is a type neurodegenerative disease that has many attributes similar to both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Williams was suffering from depression and the early stages of Parkinson's disease at the time of his death.

Williams' autopsy was released and found no alcohol or illegal drugs were in his body when he killed himself at his Tiburon home in August.

The autopsy results released by the Marin County Sheriff's office found that the actor had taken prescription medications, but in "therapeutic concentrations."

The coroner ruled Williams' death a suicide that resulted from asphyxia due to hanging.