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. 2013 Nov;70(11):1396-402.
doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.3579.

Incidence of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia

Rodolfo Savica  1 , Brandon R Grossardt, James H Bower, Bradley F Boeve, J Eric Ahlskog, Walter A Rocca
Affiliations

Incidence of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia

Rodolfo Savica et al. JAMA Neurol. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Importance: Epidemiologic data on dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson disease dementia (PDD) remain limited in the United States and worldwide. These data are essential to guide research and clinical or public health interventions.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of DLB among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, and compare it with the incidence of PDD.

Design: The medical records linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify all persons who developed parkinsonism and, in particular, DLB or PDD from 1991 through 2005 (15 years). A movement disorders specialist reviewed the complete medical records of each suspected patient to confirm the diagnosis.

Setting: Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1991 through 2005 (15 years).

Participants: All the residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who gave authorization for medical record research.

Main outcomes and measures: Incidence of DLB and PDD.

Results: Among 542 incident cases of parkinsonism, 64 had DLB and 46 had PDD. The incidence rate of DLB was 3.5 per 100,000 person-years overall, and it increased steeply with age. The incidence of PDD was 2.5 overall and also increased steeply with age. The incidence rate of DLB and PDD combined was 5.9. Patients with DLB were younger at onset of symptoms than patients with PDD and had more hallucinations and cognitive fluctuations. Men had a higher incidence of DLB than women across the age spectrum. The pathology was consistent with the clinical diagnosis in 24 of 31 patients (77.4%) who underwent autopsy.

Conclusions and relevance: The overall incidence rate of DLB is lower than the rate of Parkinson disease. The incidence of DLB increases steeply with age and is markedly higher in men. This men to women difference may suggest different etiologic mechanisms. Our findings may guide health care planning and prompt new studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age- and sex-specific incidence rates per 100,000 person-years for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB; upper panel), Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD; middle panel), and both diseases combined (DLB and PDD; lower panel).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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