scholarly journals Advances in dementia with Lewy bodies

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628642110576
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Armstrong

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a clinical diagnosis representing a specific presentation of a pathological α-synucleinopathy (Lewy body disease). DLB is one entity under the broader term Lewy body dementia, which also includes Parkinson’s disease dementia. Recent advances in DLB include publication of updated diagnostic criteria and recognition of prodromal DLB states, including mild cognitive impairment, delirium-onset, and psychiatric-onset forms. Research criteria for the mild cognitive impairment form of DLB were published in 2020. Increasing research shows that concomitant Alzheimer’s disease pathology in individuals with DLB is common in addition to the α-synucleinopathy pathology. This has implications for biomarker use and expected progression. Identifying biomarkers for DLB is an area of active research. Cerebrospinal fluid and skin biopsy tests are now commercially available in the United States, but their role in routine clinical care is not yet established. Additional research and biomarkers are needed. Research suggests that median survival after DLB diagnosis is 3–4 years, but there are rapidly and slowly progressive forms. Most individuals with DLB die of complications of the disease. Clinical trials for individuals with DLB have increased over the last 5 years, targeting both symptoms and underlying pathology. Effective therapies remain an unmet need, however. This review focuses on recent advances with an emphasis on literature that informs clinical care.

Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012024
Author(s):  
Calum A. Hamilton ◽  
Fiona E. Matthews ◽  
Paul C. Donaghy ◽  
John-Paul Taylor ◽  
John T. O'Brien ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo determine whether mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies or Alzheimer's disease differ in their rates of clinical progression to dementia, we undertook longitudinal observation of mild cognitive impairment cases with detailed clinical assessment of Lewy body diagnostic characteristics.MethodsTwo prospective longitudinal cohorts combining to 111 individuals aged 60 years or older with mild cognitive impairment were assessed annually to track cognitive and clinical progression, including the presence or absence of core clinical features and proposed biomarkers of dementia with Lewy bodies. Multi-state modelling was used to assess the associations of diagnostic characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies with clinical progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, with death as a competing outcome.ResultsAfter a mean follow-up of 2.2 years (range = 1–6.7 years), 38/111 (34%) of the participants progressed to dementia: 10 with AD, 3 with possible dementia with Lewy bodies and 25 with probable dementia with Lewy bodies. The presence of any Lewy body disease characteristic was associated with an increased hazard of transition to dementia; this risk further increased as more diagnostic characteristics were observed (Hazard ratio = 1.33 per characteristic, 95% CI: 1.11–1.60), and was especially high for those experiencing complex visual hallucinations (Hazard ratio = 1.98, 95% CI: 0.92–4.29) or cognitive fluctuations (Hazard ratio = 3.99, 95% CI: 2.03–7.84).ConclusionsDiagnostic characteristics of Lewy body disease are associated with an increased risk of transition from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Galvin ◽  
Stephanie Chrisphonte ◽  
Iris Cohen ◽  
Keri K. Greenfield ◽  
Michael J. Kleiman ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Knopman

There are a relatively small number of disorders that account for the majority of dementia in the elderly that is not Alzheimer disease (AD): cerebrovascular disease, Lewy body disease (α-synucleinopathies), and the frontotemporal lobar degenerations. Cerebrovascular disease and Lewy body disease account for most non-AD dementia among persons in the eighth decade of life and beyond. These two frequently co-occur with AD but can occur in their pure forms rarely (in the case of dementia associated with cerebrovascular disease) or more commonly (in the case of Lewy body disease). There is no one cognitive or behavioral syndrome associated with cerebrovascular disease; however, attempts to isolate a common theme suggest that cognitive slowing is typical of cerebrovascular contributions to cognitive impairment. Cerebrovascular pathology relevant to cognitive impairment accumulates subclinically more commonly than it causes acute, strokelike declines in cognition. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a multidimensional disorder that includes a nonamnestic dementia, Parkinson disease or at least some parkinsonian features, a disorder of sleep and wakefulness, autonomic disturbances, and depression. The disorders of sleep prominently include rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, visual hallucinations, and marked fluctuations in level of alertness. The frontotemporal lobar degenerations are nearly as common as causes of dementia in persons under age 65 as is AD. The group of disorders includes two cognitive syndromes (primary progressive aphasia and behavior variant frontotemporal dementia) and two neuropathologic subtypes (tauopathy and TDP43 proteinopathy) and is associated with three major autosomal dominant genetic mutations (in MAPT, GRN, and C9ORF72). Key words: dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal lobar degenerations, vascular cognitive impairment


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Knopman

There are a relatively small number of disorders that account for the majority of dementia in the elderly that is not Alzheimer disease (AD): cerebrovascular disease, Lewy body disease (α-synucleinopathies), and the frontotemporal lobar degenerations. Cerebrovascular disease and Lewy body disease account for most non-AD dementia among persons in the eighth decade of life and beyond. These two frequently co-occur with AD but can occur in their pure forms rarely (in the case of dementia associated with cerebrovascular disease) or more commonly (in the case of Lewy body disease). There is no one cognitive or behavioral syndrome associated with cerebrovascular disease; however, attempts to isolate a common theme suggest that cognitive slowing is typical of cerebrovascular contributions to cognitive impairment. Cerebrovascular pathology relevant to cognitive impairment accumulates subclinically more commonly than it causes acute, strokelike declines in cognition. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a multidimensional disorder that includes a nonamnestic dementia, Parkinson disease or at least some parkinsonian features, a disorder of sleep and wakefulness, autonomic disturbances, and depression. The disorders of sleep prominently include rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, visual hallucinations, and marked fluctuations in level of alertness. The frontotemporal lobar degenerations are nearly as common as causes of dementia in persons under age 65 as is AD. The group of disorders includes two cognitive syndromes (primary progressive aphasia and behavior variant frontotemporal dementia) and two neuropathologic subtypes (tauopathy and TDP43 proteinopathy) and is associated with three major autosomal dominant genetic mutations (in MAPT, GRN, and C9ORF72). Key words: dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal lobar degenerations, vascular cognitive impairment


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Knopman

There are a relatively small number of disorders that account for the majority of dementia in the elderly that is not Alzheimer disease (AD): cerebrovascular disease, Lewy body disease (α-synucleinopathies), and the frontotemporal lobar degenerations. Cerebrovascular disease and Lewy body disease account for most non-AD dementia among persons in the eighth decade of life and beyond. These two frequently co-occur with AD but can occur in their pure forms rarely (in the case of dementia associated with cerebrovascular disease) or more commonly (in the case of Lewy body disease). There is no one cognitive or behavioral syndrome associated with cerebrovascular disease; however, attempts to isolate a common theme suggest that cognitive slowing is typical of cerebrovascular contributions to cognitive impairment. Cerebrovascular pathology relevant to cognitive impairment accumulates subclinically more commonly than it causes acute, strokelike declines in cognition. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a multidimensional disorder that includes a nonamnestic dementia, Parkinson disease or at least some parkinsonian features, a disorder of sleep and wakefulness, autonomic disturbances, and depression. The disorders of sleep prominently include rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, visual hallucinations, and marked fluctuations in level of alertness. The frontotemporal lobar degenerations are nearly as common as causes of dementia in persons under age 65 as is AD. The group of disorders includes two cognitive syndromes (primary progressive aphasia and behavior variant frontotemporal dementia) and two neuropathologic subtypes (tauopathy and TDP43 proteinopathy) and is associated with three major autosomal dominant genetic mutations (in MAPT, GRN, and C9ORF72). Key words: dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal lobar degenerations, vascular cognitive impairment


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Knopman

There are a relatively small number of disorders that account for the majority of dementia in the elderly that is not Alzheimer disease (AD): cerebrovascular disease, Lewy body disease (α-synucleinopathies), and the frontotemporal lobar degenerations. Cerebrovascular disease and Lewy body disease account for most non-AD dementia among persons in the eighth decade of life and beyond. These two frequently co-occur with AD but can occur in their pure forms rarely (in the case of dementia associated with cerebrovascular disease) or more commonly (in the case of Lewy body disease). There is no one cognitive or behavioral syndrome associated with cerebrovascular disease; however, attempts to isolate a common theme suggest that cognitive slowing is typical of cerebrovascular contributions to cognitive impairment. Cerebrovascular pathology relevant to cognitive impairment accumulates subclinically more commonly than it causes acute, strokelike declines in cognition. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a multidimensional disorder that includes a nonamnestic dementia, Parkinson disease or at least some parkinsonian features, a disorder of sleep and wakefulness, autonomic disturbances, and depression. The disorders of sleep prominently include rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, visual hallucinations, and marked fluctuations in level of alertness. The frontotemporal lobar degenerations are nearly as common as causes of dementia in persons under age 65 as is AD. The group of disorders includes two cognitive syndromes (primary progressive aphasia and behavior variant frontotemporal dementia) and two neuropathologic subtypes (tauopathy and TDP43 proteinopathy) and is associated with three major autosomal dominant genetic mutations (in MAPT, GRN, and C9ORF72). Key words: dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal lobar degenerations, vascular cognitive impairment


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Gemma Roberts ◽  
Paul C. Donaghy ◽  
Jim Lloyd ◽  
Rory Durcan ◽  
George Petrides ◽  
...  

Background Dopaminergic imaging is an established biomarker for dementia with Lewy bodies, but its diagnostic accuracy at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage remains uncertain. Aims To provide robust prospective evidence of the diagnostic accuracy of dopaminergic imaging at the MCI stage to either support or refute its inclusion as a biomarker for the diagnosis of MCI with Lewy bodies. Method We conducted a prospective diagnostic accuracy study of baseline dopaminergic imaging with [123I]N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane single-photon emission computerised tomography (123I-FP-CIT SPECT) in 144 patients with MCI. Images were rated as normal or abnormal by a panel of experts with access to striatal binding ratio results. Follow-up consensus diagnosis based on the presence of core features of Lewy body disease was used as the reference standard. Results At latest assessment (mean 2 years) 61 patients had probable MCI with Lewy bodies, 26 possible MCI with Lewy bodies and 57 MCI due to Alzheimer's disease. The sensitivity of baseline FP-CIT visual rating for probable MCI with Lewy bodies was 66% (95% CI 52–77%), specificity 88% (76–95%) and accuracy 76% (68–84%), with positive likelihood ratio 5.3. Conclusions It is over five times as likely for an abnormal scan to be found in probable MCI with Lewy bodies than MCI due to Alzheimer's disease. Dopaminergic imaging appears to be useful at the MCI stage in cases where Lewy body disease is suspected clinically.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 540
Author(s):  
Lauren Revie ◽  
Calum A Hamilton ◽  
Joanna Ciafone ◽  
Paul C Donaghy ◽  
Alan Thomas ◽  
...  

Background: Visual hallucinations (VH) are a common symptom in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB); however, their cognitive underpinnings remain unclear. Hallucinations have been related to cognitive slowing in DLB and may arise due to impaired sensory input, dysregulation in top-down influences over perception, or an imbalance between the two, resulting in false visual inferences. Methods: Here we employed a drift diffusion model yielding estimates of perceptual encoding time, decision threshold, and drift rate of evidence accumulation to (i) investigate the nature of DLB-related slowing of responses and (ii) their relationship to visuospatial performance and visual hallucinations. The EZ drift diffusion model was fitted to mean reaction time (RT), accuracy and RT variance from two-choice reaction time (CRT) tasks and data were compared between groups of mild cognitive impairment (MCI-LB) LB patients (n = 49) and healthy older adults (n = 25). Results: No difference was detected in drift rate between patients and controls, but MCI-LB patients showed slower non-decision times and boundary separation values than control participants. Furthermore, non-decision time was negatively correlated with visuospatial performance in MCI-LB, and score on visual hallucinations inventory. However, only boundary separation was related to clinical incidence of visual hallucinations. Conclusions: These results suggest that a primary impairment in perceptual encoding may contribute to the visuospatial performance, however a more cautious response strategy may be related to visual hallucinations in Lewy body disease. Interestingly, MCI-LB patients showed no impairment in information processing ability, suggesting that, when perceptual encoding was successful, patients were able to normally process information, potentially explaining the variability of hallucination incidence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1244-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor King ◽  
John O'Brien ◽  
Paul Donaghy ◽  
Caroline H. Williams-Gray ◽  
Rachael A. Lawson ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 396-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan J. Thomas ◽  
Paul Donaghy ◽  
Gemma Roberts ◽  
Sean J. Colloby ◽  
Nicky A. Barnett ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundDopaminergic imaging has high diagnostic accuracy for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) at the dementia stage. We report the first investigation of dopaminergic imaging at the prodromal stage.MethodsWe recruited 75 patients over 60 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 33 with probable MCI with Lewy body disease (MCI-LB), 15 with possible MCI-LB and 27 with MCI with Alzheimer's disease. All underwent detailed clinical, neurological and neuropsychological assessments and FP-CIT [123I-N-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)] dopaminergic imaging. FP-CIT scans were blindly rated by a consensus panel and classified as normal or abnormal.ResultsThe sensitivity of visually rated FP-CIT imaging to detect combined possible or probable MCI-LB was 54.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 39.2–68.6], with a specificity of 89.0% (95% CI 70.8–97.6) and a likelihood ratio for MCI-LB of 4.9, indicating that FP-CIT may be a clinically important test in MCI where any characteristic symptoms of Lewy body (LB) disease are present. The sensitivity in probable MCI-LB was 61.0% (95% CI 42.5–77.4) and in possible MCI-LB was 40.0% (95% CI 16.4–67.7).ConclusionsDopaminergic imaging had high specificity at the pre-dementia stage and gave a clinically important increase in diagnostic confidence and so should be considered in all patients with MCI who have any of the diagnostic symptoms of DLB. As expected, the sensitivity was lower in MCI-LB than in established DLB, although over 50% still had an abnormal scan. Accurate diagnosis of LB disease is important to enable early optimal treatment for LB symptoms.


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