title: Frequency and clinical features of Lewy body dementia in Italian memory clinics.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Don C. Gnocchi Foundation, S. Maria Nascente Clinical Research Center, Neurorehabilitation Unit, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. efarina@dongnocchi.it
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baglio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caffarra
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magnani
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpini
authors.forename: Ildebrando
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Appollonio
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bascelli
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheldi
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nemni
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellotti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olivotto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alberoni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Isella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Regazzoni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiatti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vismara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falautano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Restelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fetoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuffi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castiglioni
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs