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J Neuroimmunol 2019 Feb 16;330:35-37. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-Ku, Yokohama-Shi, Kanagawa-Ken 236-0004, Japan. Electronic address:

We report a case of probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with several findings indicating autoimmune encephalitis (e.g. anti-thyroid antibodies in serum and oligoclonal band and anti-N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid). Read More

Psychogeriatrics 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Medical Affairs, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

Background: We performed a questionnaire survey of medical doctors engaged in the management of dementia to identify the actual status of treatment for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) in Japan.

Methods: Among participating medical doctors, we selected neurologists (Group N) and psychiatrists (Group P) because these physicians are usually involved in the management of DLB patients. The two groups were compared based on their diagnosis and treatment of DLB and in particular, parkinsonism. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2019 Mar 24;17(3):1611-1624. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, P.R. China.

Recently, several randomized controlled trials on the use of cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine as treatments for cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (CIND-PD), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) were completed. The present study provided a meta-analysis of these studies to evaluate the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine on CIND-PD, PDD and DLB. The Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched to retrieve eligible studies. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Dept. of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Introduction: The disease course of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) can be rapidly progressive, clinically resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease (CJD). To better understand factors contributing to this rapidly progressive disease course, we describe load and distribution of neuropathology, and the presence of possible disease-associated genetic defects in a post-mortem series of DLB cases clinically suspected of CJD.

Methods: We included pathologically confirmed DLB cases with a disease duration of 3. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 ;67(3):995-1005

Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common degenerative dementia in older people. However, rates of misdiagnosis are high, and little is known of its natural history and outcomes. Very few previous studies have been able to access routine clinical information for large, unbiased DLB cohorts in order to establish initial presentation, neuropsychological profile, and mortality. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Feb 9. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Department of Internal Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Background: Epidemiological studies link serum potassium (K +) to cognitive performance, but whether cognitive prognosis in dementia is related to K + levels is unknown.

Objective: To determine if K + levels predict cognitive prognosis in dementia and if this varies according to diagnosis or neuropathological findings.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study recruited 183 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease or Lewy body dementia (LBD). Read More

Psychogeriatrics 2019 Feb 17. Epub 2019 Feb 17.

Department of Psychiatry, Shinjuku Shinkei Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.

Sleep Med 2018 Dec 18;55:62-68. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Neurology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisboa, Portugal; CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School, USA.

Introduction: Sleep dysfunction is frequent in Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), but polysomnographic (PSG) data is scarce. Our objectives were to: (1) compare PSG data between DLB patients and age normative values (NV), Parkinson's Disease (PD) and idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) patients; (2) evaluate the relation between of OSA, Fluctuations and Hypersomnolence and PSG data.

Methods: We selected all consecutive patients with DLB, PD and iRBD that underwent video-PSG during a two year period. Read More

J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Objectives: To summarize select continuing pharmacy education (CPE) topics and hours related to geriatric care completed by community, hospital/clinic, and long-term care (LTC)/consultant pharmacists in the previous 12 months, whether pharmacy workplace influenced topic selection or completion, and to describe CPE sources used by community versus hospital/clinic pharmacists.

Design: Cross-sectional survey (2017).

Setting And Participants: Licensed pharmacists in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska with primary practice settings in community pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics or those practicing as consultant pharmacists. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1948:261-269

Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

α-Synuclein (αS) is an abundant neuronal protein which has been implicated, among others, in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In fact, αS is the major constituent of Lewy bodies, the primarily proteinaceous inclusions found in the nervous tissue of PD and DLB patients. While its physiological role is unclear, it is believed to be involved in the regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1948:45-57

Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

The accumulation of intraneuronal inclusions containing misfolded alpha-synuclein (aSyn) within the central nervous system (CNS) is a common feature found in several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). Emerging evidence indicates that aSyn amyloid fibrils, a configuration that is present within these characteristic inclusions, are capable of self-replicating by templating the conversion of endogenously expressed aSyn in neurons. Stereotaxic administration of synthetic α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the mouse brain has been shown to seed the formation of intracellular aSyn pathology reminiscent of Lewy body (LB) inclusions present in human PD and related synucleinopathies. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1948:1-14

Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are characterized by intracellular inclusions composed mostly of α-synuclein (Baba et al., Am J Pathol 152:879-884, 1998). How inclusion formation impacts neuronal function prior to death is key to understanding disease progression and identifying therapeutic windows. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.

Background: Visualization of phosphorylated α-synuclein at serine 129 (p-syn) in skin nerves is a promising test for the in vivo diagnosis of synucleinopathies. Here we aimed to establish the intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility of quantification of intraneural p-syn immunoreactivity in two laboratories with a major expertise (Würzburg and Bologna).

Methods: We enrolled 43 patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD: 21 patients), Dementia with Lewy Body (DLB: 1), REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD: 11), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA-P: 4) and small fiber neuropathy (SFN: 6). Read More

J Exp Med 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

It has been challenging to produce ex vivo models of the inclusion pathologies that are hallmark pathologies of many neurodegenerative diseases. Using three-dimensional mouse brain slice cultures (BSCs), we have developed a paradigm that rapidly and robustly recapitulates mature neurofibrillary inclusion and Lewy body formation found in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, respectively. This was achieved by transducing the BSCs with recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) that express α-synuclein or variants of tau. Read More

Behav Brain Res 2019 Feb 12;364:149-156. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Psychology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address:

Several neurodegenerative disorders, namely Parkinson's disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Alzheimer's disease, share common pathophysiological features, such as (1) cognitive deficits, (2) glutamatergic hyperactivity-related excitotoxicity, and (3) deposition of α-synuclein (α-syn) and β-amyloid (Aβ). Ceftriaxone (CEF) is a well-tested and safe drug that has been used as an antibiotic for several decades. Recent studies have demonstrated the following effects of CEF: (1) increasing glutamate transporter-1 expression and glutamate reuptake and suppressing excitotoxicity, (2) binding well with α-syn and inhibition of α-syn polymerization, (3) modulating expression of genes related to Aβ metabolism, and (4) enhancing neurogenesis and recovery of neuronal density. Read More

J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NU, UK.

The dementia spectrum encompasses a range of disorders with complex diagnosis, pathophysiology and limited treatment options. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging provides insights into specific neurodegenerative processes underlying dementia disorders in vivo. Here we focus on some of the most common dementias: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsonism dementias including Parkinson's disease with dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal syndrome, and frontotemporal lobe degeneration. Read More

Psychogeriatrics 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Departments of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.

Front Pharmacol 2019 30;10:36. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Soluble epoxide hydrolases (sEH), enzymes present in all living organisms, metabolize epoxy fatty acids (EpFAs) to corresponding 1,2-diols by the addition of a molecule of water. Accumulating evidence suggests that sEH in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) plays a key role in inflammation. Read More

Lab Invest 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

Cell-to-cell transmission of proteopathic alpha-synuclein (α-syn) seeds is increasingly thought to underlie the progression of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, and related synucleinopathies. As such, it is important to understand the chemical and biological relationships between cells and pathological aggregates of α-syn. This brief review updates our understanding of the templated spread of α-syn pathology in neurodegenerative disease from the perspective of proteopathic α-syn seeds, including how these seeds are processed by cells as well as their effects on cellular function. Read More

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Advanced neuroimaging has increased understanding of the pathogenesis and spread of disease, and offered new therapeutic targets. MRI and positron emission tomography have shown that neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), Parkinson's disease (PD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are associated with changes in brain networks. However, the underlying neurophysiological pathways driving pathological processes are poorly defined. Read More

Neurotherapeutics 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, and Department of Neurology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is diagnosed largely on clinical grounds due to characteristic motor manifestations that result from the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. While traditional pharmacological approaches to enhance dopamine levels, such as with L-dopa, can be very effective initially, the chronic use of this dopamine precursor is commonly plagued with motor response complications. Additionally, with advancing disease, non-motor manifestations emerge, including psychosis and dementia that compound patient disability. Read More

Cell Death Dis 2019 Feb 12;10(2):133. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Human Anatomy, Medical School of Southeast University, Dingjiaqiao 87, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, P. R. China.

Mutations in α-synuclein gene have been linked to familial early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) with Lewy body pathology. A30P mutant α-synuclein is believed to suppress autophagic progression associated with PD pathogenesis. However, the mechanistic link between A30P mutation and autophagy inhibition in PD remains poorly understood. Read More

Mov Disord Clin Pract 2019 Jan 8;6(1):77-80. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Psychiatry University of Cambridge Cambridge United Kingdom.

Mov Disord Clin Pract 2019 Jan 9;6(1):46-50. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Sakura Medical Center Toho University Sakura Japan.

Objectives: Neuroimaging markers for Parkinson's disease (PD)/dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) include dopamine transporter (DAT) scanning and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy. It is unknown which marker is useful to identify the premotor phase PD/DLB. We reported four patients who, during a negative DAT scan period, had a positive MIBG result that suggested premotor PD/DLB. Read More

Neuroimage Clin 2019 Feb 4;22:101711. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Diagnosing frontotemporal dementia may be challenging. New methods for analysis of regional brain atrophy patterns on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could add to the diagnostic assessment. Therefore, we aimed to develop automated imaging biomarkers for differentiating frontotemporal dementia subtypes from other diagnostic groups, and from one another. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2019 Jan 28;167:10-36. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Catania, viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. Electronic address:

A host of human diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies, are suspected to be directly linked to protein aggregation. Amyloid protein aggregates and oligomeric intermediates of α-synuclein are observed in synucleinopathies and considered to be mediators of cellular toxicity. Hence, α-synuclein has seen as one of the leading and most compelling targets and is receiving a great deal of attention from researchers. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 11;9(1):1734. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.

α-Synuclein is a protein that aggregates as amyloid fibrils in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Small oligomers of α-synuclein are neurotoxic and are thought to be closely associated with disease. Whereas α-synuclein fibrillization and fibril morphologies have been studied extensively with various methods, the earliest stages of aggregation and the properties of oligomeric intermediates are less well understood because few methods are able to detect and characterize early-stage aggregates. Read More

J Parkinsons Dis 2019 ;9(1):97-107

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of inclusions known as Lewy bodies in some brain regions. Lewy bodies consist of α-synuclein and many other proteins including chaperones.

Objective: To learn more about the role of chaperone complexes in PD and a related disorder, i. Read More

Clin Auton Res 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Sakura Medical Center, Toho University, Sakura, Japan.

Purpose: To investigate gastrointestinal function in dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease.

Methods: We examined gastric emptying and colonic transit time in 19 dementia with Lewy bodies and 46 Parkinson disease patients.

Results: Gastric emptying was longer in dementia with Lewy bodies than in Parkinson disease (p = 0. Read More

Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2019 Feb 10:1533317519828046. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

1 Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

There has been no comparison of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). We identified patients with mild dementia who met criteria for these disorders who also had the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) completed. The sample included 17 bvFTD, 111 AD, and 31 DLB. Read More

Transl Neurodegener 2019 4;8. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

1Department of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433 Singapore.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, which is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra pars compacta concomitant with Lewy body formation in affected brain areas. The detailed pathogenic mechanisms underlying the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD are unclear, and no drugs or treatments have been developed to alleviate progressive dopaminergic neuron degeneration in PD. However, the formation of α-synuclein-positive protein aggregates in Lewy body has been identified as a common pathological feature of PD, possibly stemming from the consequence of protein misfolding and dysfunctional proteostasis. Read More

Health Soc Care Community 2019 Feb 9. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London, UK.

It has been highlighted that health and social care staff need a greater awareness of the needs and problems of those people with young onset dementia in the UK. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are relatively well known (memory loss, disorientation, language difficulties and behavioural problems). However, there is less awareness of dementia-related visual processing impairments in Alzheimer's disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies or rarer dementia syndromes such as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), leading to delayed assessment, diagnosis and management. Read More

Lab Invest 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.

Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of insoluble, aggregated α-synuclein (αS) pathological inclusions. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) presents with extensive oligodendroglial αS pathology and additional more limited neuronal inclusions while most of the other synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), develop αS pathology primarily in neuronal cell populations. αS biochemical alterations specific to MSA have been described but thorough examination of these unique and disease-specific protein deposits is further warranted especially given recent findings implicating the prion-like nature of synucleinopathies perhaps with distinct strain-like properties. Read More

Mol Pharm 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Centre for Applied Pharmacokinetic Research (CAPKR) , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) maintains brain homeostasis by controlling traffic of molecules from the circulation into the brain. This function is predominantly dependent on proteins expressed at the BBB, especially transporters and tight junction proteins. Alterations to the level and function of BBB proteins can impact the susceptibility of the central nervous system to exposure to xenobiotics in the systemic circulation with potential consequent effects on brain function. Read More

Psychogeriatrics 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Psychogeriatrics, Kamiiida Daiichi General Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.

Background: Visual hallucinations (VH) are one of the most common psychological symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). It is generally considered that the VH that occur in DLB usually disappear when patients try to touch imaginary objects. However, DLB patients also sometimes experience tactile hallucinations (TH). Read More

J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2018 30;8(5). Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Background: Developing methods for accurately diagnosing prion diseases has been a challenge in the search for successful diagnosis and treatment of rapidly progressive dementia. prion diseases are rare. However, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Read More

Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019 Feb 7;7(1):16. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Neurovascular Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK.

Previous studies suggest white matter (WM) integrity is vulnerable to chronic hypoperfusion during brain ageing. We assessed ~ 0.7 million capillary profiles in the frontal lobe WM across several dementias comprising Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease with dementia, vascular dementia, mixed dementias, post-stroke dementia as well as post-stroke no dementia and similar age ageing and young controls without significant brain pathology. Read More

J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK.

Early detection and accurate diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders may provide better epidemiological data, closer monitoring of disease progression and enable more specialised intervention. We analysed the clinical records and pathology of brain donations from 180 patients from two Brains for Dementia Research cohorts to determine the agreement between in-life clinical diagnosis and post-mortem pathological results. Clinical diagnosis was extracted from medical records and cases assigned into broad clinical groups; control, Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (CVD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and combined diseases. Read More

Int Psychogeriatr 2019 Jan;31(1):153

Department of Hygiene and Public Health,Nippon Medical School,Bunkyo-Ku,Tokyo,Japan.

Liu et al. (2017) investigated caregiver burden of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which was compared with caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The authors concluded that the frequency and severity of behavioral disturbances in caregiver of patients with FTD and DLB were higher than those with caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Read More

Psychogeriatrics 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Kawasaki Memorial Hospital, Kawasaki-city, Japan.

We herein report two patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) presenting characteristic symptoms suggestive of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Patient 1 presented behavioural and personality changes from the onset, such as restlessness, compulsive behaviours, and stereotypical speech. A neuroimaging study showed preferential frontal involvement, and this patient fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for bvFTD. Read More

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California, San Diego.

Objective: Compromised functional abilities in older adults with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) represent a significant burden to families and frequently lead to institutionalization. Contributing factors to this compromise are poorly understood.

Methods: Using data collected at a first study visit, multiple regression modeling was used to examine the associations between Braak staged Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) status, Parkinsonian gait, cognition and functional status from a cohort of 102 cases with an autopsy-confirmed diagnosis of dementia stemming from combined Lewy body and AD pathology. Read More

Neurosci Bull 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Psychogeriatrics 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Medical Affairs, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a progressive form of dementia, accompanied by a range of behavioural and psychological symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify current clinical practice for the treatment of DLB in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a survey of medical doctors engaged in the management of dementia in Japan. Read More

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the literature on imaging in prodromal Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Design: Systematic PubMed search and literature review.

Results: Diagnostic classification of the prodromal DLB stage remains to be established but is likely to require imaging biomarkers to improve diagnostic accuracy. Read More

Neurobiol Dis 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Center of Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address:

While the link between GBA and Parkinson's disease (PD) was initially unexpected, it is now well established that GBA mutations are the most frequent genetic risk for PD. GBA has also been linked to sporadic PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, and ageing. Thus, GBA represents a promising target to counteract brain disease and the age-related decline of lysosomal function. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 Jan 26. Epub 2019 Jan 26.

Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Objective: To determine the utility of I-metaiodobenzylguanidine cardiac scintigraphy (MIBG), and optimum heart: mediastinum ratio (HMR) for differentiating dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a clinically representative population, comparing findings with those of I-2β -carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane (FP-CIT) SPECT.

Methods: We recruited subjects with probable DLB (n = 17) and probable AD (n = 16) from clinical services. Each participant underwent clinical examination, cardiac MIBG scintigraphy and FP-CIT SPECT. Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2019 Feb;25(1):128-146

Purpose Of Review: This article describes current diagnostic criteria relating to the diagnosis of Lewy body dementia, highlights diagnostic controversies, and reviews treatment approaches.

Recent Findings: Clinical diagnostic criteria for both Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies have been recently updated. These criteria result in overlap between individuals diagnosed with Parkinson disease and those with dementia with Lewy bodies. Read More

J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Parkinson's Disorder Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.

Adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), that share the accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (αSyn) as their hallmark molecular pathology are collectively known as α-synucleinopathies. Diagnosing α-synucleinopathies requires the post-mortem detection of αSyn in various brain regions. Recent efforts to measure αSyn in living patients include quantifying αSyn in different biofluids as a biomarker for PD. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 Feb 31;144(3):156-160. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Abteilung für Gerontopsychiatrie, ZI Mannheim, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg.

Antidementia therapy: The clinical use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE-I) for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia is recognized worldwide, despite its modest effectiveness. AChE-I may be continued to be used into severe stages of the dementia. In moderate to severe Alzheimer's dementia, the NMDA-receptor-antagonist Memantin is indicated. Read More