Amyloid Imaging and Longitudinal Clinical Progression in Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Abstract

Objective: Significant amyloid deposition is present in approximately half of all cases of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We sought to determine whether amyloid deposition was associated with more rapid clinical decline over 1 year.

Methods: Twenty-eight participants had a baseline clinical assessment and amyloid PET scan, followed by a further clinical assessment after 1 year. Changes in clinical measures were compared with amyloid deposition assessed by visual rating and cortical standardized uptake value ratio.

Results: Amyloid deposition on visual rating was associated with greater decline in Mini-Mental State Examination and daily function over 1 year. There was no correlation between cortical standardized uptake value ratio and clinical measures.

Conclusions: This study provides further evidence for a link between amyloid deposition and clinical progression in DLB. Pathologies such as amyloid, and their interaction with α-synuclein, remain possible treatment targets in DLB.

Keywords: Dementia with Lewy bodies; amyloid; imaging; positron emission tomography.