New evidence on the management of Lewy body dementia

Lancet Neurol. 2020 Feb;19(2):157-169. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30153-X. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Abstract

Dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia, jointly known as Lewy body dementia, are common neurodegenerative conditions. Patients with Lewy body dementia present with a wide range of cognitive, neuropsychiatric, sleep, motor, and autonomic symptoms. Presentation varies between patients and can vary over time within an individual. Treatments can address one symptom but worsen another, which makes disease management difficult. Symptoms are often managed in isolation and by different specialists, which makes high-quality care difficult to accomplish. Clinical trials and meta-analyses now provide an evidence base for the treatment of cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and motor symptoms in patients with Lewy body dementia. Furthermore, consensus opinion from experts supports the application of treatments for related conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, for the management of common symptoms (eg, autonomic dysfunction) in patients with Lewy body dementia. However, evidence gaps remain and future clinical trials need to focus on the treatment of symptoms specific to patients with Lewy body dementia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Dementia / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lewy Bodies
  • Lewy Body Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lewy Body Disease / therapy*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / diagnosis
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease / therapy