Psychiatr. praxi. 2013;14(4):158-160

Dementia with Lewy bodies

doc.MUDr.Roman Jirák, CSc.

Psychiatrická klinika 1. LF UK Praha

Dementia with Lewy bodies, also known as diffuse Lewy body disease (DLBD), is a dementia of neurodegenerative origin. It is second only

to Alzheimer’s disease as the most common neurodegenerative dementia and the third most common of all dementias. It has a specific

pathology, with the occurrence of degeneration of the neuronal protein alpha-synuclein – similarly to Parkinson’s disease; however, cortical

neurons are also affected to a varying degree. In addition, Alzheimer’s changes, neuronal tau protein degeneration, and amyloid plaque

formation often occur in varying degrees. Clinically, there are several forms that overlap with each other – subcortical form, corticosubcortical

form. DLBD is particularly characterized by the following features: Marked fluctuation of the condition occurs within a short time interval.

Attention is the cognitive function to be first and most conspicuously affected. Associated deliria are frequent. There are visual or complex

hallucinations accompanied by the formation of paranoid delusions. The occurrence of parkinsonian symptoms, particularly rigidity, often

with falls, is frequent. The patients are oversensitive to antipsychotic drugs the administration of which increases the frequency of falls.

Keywords: dementia, hallucinations, Lewy bodies, falls, attention

Published: November 1, 2013  Show citation