A recent study has highlighted cognitive profiles that can aid in the early diagnosis of Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Although DLB ranks as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s Disease, it is often misidentified, hindering patients from receiving care that is better suited to their specific situation.
A recent study, published today in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, details cognitive profiles that can assist in the early detection of Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). DLB stands as the second most common neurodegenerative dementia, following Alzheimer’s Disease, yet it frequently suffers from misdiagnosis, which obstructs individuals from obtaining more appropriate care aligned with their prognosis.
“Research has provided criteria for more accurate identification of DLB, yet our goal was to compile various studies to create a set of guidelines that can be used in clinical practice,” explains Ece Bayram, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and lead author of the study. “By consolidating data from multiple publications, we successfully developed a cognitive profile that distinguishes DLB from Alzheimer’s prior to the onset of dementia, which could aid in directing care for those with these conditions.”
Through a meta-analysis focused on diagnoses made during the pre-dementia stage, the researchers detected common patterns in cognitive symptoms between individuals with DLB and those with Alzheimer’s. Those in the pre-dementia stage of DLB showed greater declines in attention, processing speed, and executive function, alongside superior immediate recall and memory skills when compared to their Alzheimer’s counterparts.
“By defining these cognitive profiles, we achieved the foundation needed to propose guidelines that healthcare providers can readily learn to better customize care plans,” says Bayram. “Additionally, this framework for clinical evaluation, as opposed to reliance on biomarker testing, enhances accessibility for practitioners. It is simpler and more cost-effective to train individuals in carrying out cognitive assessments than in conducting imaging tests or invasive biomarker analyses,” according to Bayram.
The researchers emphasize that recognizing the type of dementia at an early stage can assist in future planning for both the individual with dementia and their caregivers, as well as alleviate symptoms through appropriate treatment. For example, individuals with DLB tend to respond adversely to certain widely-used psychosis medications like haloperidol, which can exacerbate their condition. Dr. Bayram believes this study is a crucial step toward improving dementia prevention and treatment.
“We are witnessing an increasing number of treatment trials aimed at modifying diseases related to both Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia. Establishing validated clinical criteria for diagnosing DLB before dementia manifests enables us to take preventative measures rather than merely responding to significant brain degeneration afterward. These types of clinical evaluations open doors for all patients to receive care, even without access to specialized medical centers.”
