Introduction: Misdiagnosis rate of Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) remains high despite being second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia. To date, understanding of clinical profile of pathologically confirmed prodromal DLB remains limited. The main objective of this study was to describe and compare it with pathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Methods: We accessed the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database from 2005 to December 2022 data freeze and included 111 and 501 prodromal DLB and AD patients respectively. First visit data was analyzed.
Results: Clinician-determined memory impairment is common in prodromal DLB (>70%) but associated with higher risk for AD diagnosis (OR 0.355, p = 0.0003). DLB had a higher proportion of non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnoses but statistically insignificance in differentiating the two. Inattention (OR 2.273, p = 0.0015), and neuropsychiatric features, such as visual hallucinations (OR 11.98, p < 0.0001), depressed mood (OR1.709, p = 0.0292), apathy (1.824, p = 0.0345), and night/REM sleep behaviors, are associated with DLB diagnosis. Hallucinations are infrequent (7-11%). Motor symptoms, particularly gait disorders (OR 4.570, p < 0.001), falls (OR3.939, p = 0.0003), tremors (OR2.237, p = 0.0154), slowness (OR3.573, p < 0.0001), and parkinsonism signs (OR2.443, p < 0.0001), are common. 32% showed no parkinsonism during initial presentation. Neuropsychological examination revealed less impaired memory and language but impaired executive function in DLB.
Conclusion: In clinical practice, it is important to note that memory symptoms although being higher risk associated with AD diagnosis, are prominent in prodromal DLB. Psychosis is infrequent, and non-amnestic MCI is not necessarily associated with higher risk of DLB diagnosis. A careful clinical approach is key to improve the diagnosis of prodromal DLB.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Dementia with Lewy bodies; Prodromal.
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