Frequency and clinical features of Lewy body dementia in Italian memory clinics.
BACKGROUND
The latest developments in Lewy Body Dementia (DLB) raise some controversies on clinical features, neuroimaging and therapy. The aim of our study is to determine clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging and EEG profile of DLB through retrospective and prospective data of 102 patients.


METHODS
data were collected with an analytical form that was developed by an expertise of neurologists.


RESULTS
DLB represented 4.8% of the dementia population, with no sex difference. Family history of dementia was common (24.5%), while familiarity for parkinsonism was rare (4.9%). Cognitive disturbances were the predominant clinical presentation at onset (49%), followed by behavioral symptoms (29.4%) and parkinsonism (21.6%). Clinical features at consultation were: memory disturbances (almost all cases), symmetrical (68.6%) or asymmetrical (18.6%) parkinsonism, cognitive fluctuations (49%), visuospatial deficits (53.9%), and visual hallucinations (44.1%). Autonomic signs were present in a third of the cases, while sleep disorders were present in 44.1%. Some clinical response to antiparkinsonian drugs was evident in half of the cases. MRI, SPET, EEG and Neuropsychiatric Inventory data were available in a subgroup of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of our data were in accordance with the previous literature. However, some data underline the relationship between DLB, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Farina
Elisabetta
E
Don C. Gnocchi Foundation, S. Maria Nascente Clinical Research Center, Neurorehabilitation Unit, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. efarina@dongnocchi.it
Baglio
Francesca
F
Caffarra
Paolo
P
Magnani
Giuseppe
G
Scarpini
Elio
E
Appollonio
Ildebrando
I
Bascelli
Cristina
C
Cheldi
Antonella
A
Nemni
Raffaello
R
Franceschi
Massimo
M
Messa
G
G
Mantovani
F
F
Bellotti
M
M
Olivotto
F
F
Alberoni
M
M
Isella
V
V
Regazzoni
R
R
Schiatti
E
E
Vismara
C
C
Falautano
M
M
Barbieri
A
A
Restelli
I
I
Fetoni
V
V
Donato
M
M
Zuffi
M
M
Castiglioni
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs