Update on dementia with Lewy bodies

Abstract

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is known as one of common dementia disorder in Japan. As well as cognitive symptoms, multifaceted symptoms including movement, psychiatric, sleep and autonomic symptoms are frequently shown in DLB patients. As recent focus on the prodromal state of DLB, new research criteria for the diagnosis of prodromal DLB have been proposed in 2020. Although prodromal DLB has three subtypes including mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI–LB), delirium–onset DLB and psychiatric–onset DLB, there is still insufficient evidence to propose formal criteria for delirium–onset and psychiatric–onset DLB. Further studies including biomarkers for MCI–LB are needed. The DIAMOND–Lewy team developed a Management Toolkit to help clinicians with the management of DLB. Specific management for the five clinical symptoms of DLB is described in this toolkit, it can be expected to be useful in clinical practice.