DLB and PDD within the spectrum of Lewy body disease

Kenji Kosaka

St Marianna Medical Institute, Toyokokeiai Hospital

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson disease with dementia (PDD) are usually understood within the spectrum of Lewy body disease, because both the diseases share not only clinical but also neuropathological features. They are characterized by the presence of numerous Lewy bodies in the central and sympathetic nervous systems, and belong to α-synucleinopathy. The CDLB guidelines were published in 1996, and the CDLB guideline-revised was published in 2005. The 4^th international workshop on DLB and PDD was held by me in Yokohama in 2006.
The history of Lewy body disease was briefly explained, and some recent topics on DLB and PDD were reviewed.

Address correspondence to Dr. Kenji Kosaka, St Marianna Medical Institute, Toyokokeiai Hospital (4-17-23, Arima, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 216-0003, Japan)