Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Abstract

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a synucleinopathy that is clinically distinct from Alzheimer's disease, associated with cognitive decline, fluctuations in alertness and cognition, visual hallucinations, and parkinsonism. Other clinical symptoms that can occur with DLB include dysautonomia and sleep disorders such as rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). The pathological criteria of DLB are associated with the location of Lewy body pathology and the extent of Alzheimer's pathology seen. Treatment is symptomatic. The genetic basis of DLB is being explored, and future studies will investigate ways to identify those most at risk for DLB prior to the onset of cognitive symptoms.

Keywords

Lewy bodies - synucleinopathy - REM sleep behavior disorder - dysautonomia - parkinsonism

• References

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