Investigation and Diagnosis in Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Mitsuhiro Yoshita

National Hospital Organization, Hokuriku National Hospital Department of Neurology & Dementia Medical Center

DLB is a progressive degenerative dementia. The international consensus criteria should be used in diagnosing DLB. Progressive disabling mental impairment progressing to dementia is identified as the central feature of DLB. Attentional impairments and disproportionate problem solving and visuospatial difficulties are often early and prominent. Fluctuation in cognitive function, persistent well-formed visual hallucinations, and spontaneous motor features of parkinsonism are core features with diagnostic significance in discriminating DLB from AD and other dementias. Several investigations help clinical diagnosis of DLB. Here we review the current state of scientific knowledge of diagnosis and investigation on DLB.

Address correspondence to Dr. Mitsuhiro Yoshita, National Hospital Organization, Hokuriku, National Hospital, Department of Neurology & Dementia Medical Center (5963 Nobusue, Nanto, Toyama 939-1893, Japan)