Clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies

Takaaki Mori, Hirotaka Tanabe

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Neuroscience,
Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) has been recognized as a common form of dementia in the elderly.　DLB is characterized by persistent visual hallucinations, fluctuating cognitive impairment, and parkinsonisms.　In addition, REM sleep behavior disorder, neuroleptic sensitivity, autonomic dysfunction and delusions are important features.　It is necessary to diagnose by these features and imaging examinations such as SPECT, PET and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy.

Address correspondence to Dr. Takaaki Mori, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Neuroscience, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine (Toon city, Ehime 791-0295, Japan)