Variables which distinguish patients fulfilling clinical criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies from those with Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To compare patients fulfilling clinical criteria for Lewy body dementia with those meeting clinical criteria for Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Psychiatric services and a memory clinic.


METHODS
124 patients with DSM-III-R dementia.


METHODS
The assessment included the GMS/HAS/SDS package, the CAMCOG, the Cornell Depression scale and the Burns Symptom Checklist. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-III-R, NINCDS ADRDA, McKeith, Byrne, Hachinski and HAS AGECAT criteria.


RESULTS
Patients meeting McKeith et al. criteria for senile dementia of Lewy body type were significantly more likely to have clouding of consciousness, significant Parkinsonian symptoms and less severely impaired recent memory than patients with NINCDS ADRDA Alzheimer's disease. Each of these variables also distinguished patients meeting Byrne et al.'s criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies from those with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that one set of criteria could encompass those overlapping groups of patients. Work is needed to further develop the diagnostic criteria for Lewy body dementia.
Graham
C
C
Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
Ballard
C
C
Saad
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales