III./6.3.: Diffuse Lewy body dementia (DLBD)
Lewy bodies are neuronal inclusions seen also in Parkinson's disease.
Lewy bodies spread to neocortical structures in DLBD. This disease is the second most common degenerative form of dementia, but it is frequently underdiagnosed because of the common accompanying Alzheimer's pathology. In typical cases, clinical symptoms include dementia, visual hallucinations, parkinsonism. The visual hallucinations are well-formed and detailed, and frequently appear in the early stages of the disease, even before dementia becomes obvious. Cortical and subcortical cognitive symptoms are mixed in this disease. Fluctuation of symptoms is characteristic in the disease, even within a day or spanning longer periods. It should be emphasized that DLBD can be diagnosed even in the absence of parkinsonism.
Cholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are used to treat the disease. They decrease visual hallucinations and improve cognitive symptoms.