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Review
. 2024 Apr;95(4):362-367.
doi: 10.1007/s00115-023-01577-2. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

[Dementia with Lewy bodies: old and new knowledge-Part 2: treatment]

[Article in German]
Richard Dodel  1 , Daniela Berg  2 , Thomas Duning  3 , Elke Kalbe  4 , Philipp T Meyer  5 , Alfredo Ramirez  6 , Alexander Storch  7 , Dag Aarsland  8 , Frank Jessen  6
Affiliations
Review

[Dementia with Lewy bodies: old and new knowledge-Part 2: treatment]

[Article in German]
Richard Dodel et al. Nervenarzt. 2024 Apr.

Abstract
in English, German

Background: The treatment of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is multifaceted, as motor symptoms, cognitive symptoms, behavioral and psychological symptoms can occur in different constellations. In addition, the use of certain medications is limited (e.g., neuroleptics).

Objective: To summarize the main recent findings on the treatment of DLB.

Results: To date, there is no approved therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with DLB in Germany; moreover, the evidence base for pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment is sparse. The currently consented treatment options are based on the treatment of motor symptoms in the same way as the treatment of Parkinson's disease and for behavioral symptoms based on the treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Discussion: The treatment of DLB with its various symptoms is difficult and often can only be adequately achieved for the patient in close cooperation with a specialist.

Zusammenfassung: HINTERGRUND: Die Behandlung von Patienten mit Demenz mit Lewy-Körpern (DLK) ist vielschichtig, da motorische Symptome, kognitive Symptome und Verhaltens- und psychische Symptome in unterschiedlichen Konstellationen auftreten können. Zudem ist der Einsatz bestimmter Medikamente nur bedingt möglich (z. B. Neuroleptika).

Ziel der arbeit: In diesem Übersichtsartikel sollen die wichtigsten neuen Erkenntnisse zur Behandlung der DLK zusammengetragen werden.

Ergebnisse: Bisher existiert in Deutschland keine zugelassene Therapieoption für die Behandlung der Patienten mit DLK; die Evidenzbasis für die pharmakologischen und nichtpharmakologischen Behandlungsoptionen ist zudem dürftig. Die derzeit konsentierten Therapieansätze stützen sich auf die Behandlung der motorischen Symptome in Anlehnung an die Therapie bei der Parkinson-Krankheit und bei den Verhaltenssymptomen an die Therapie der Alzheimer-Krankheit.

Diskussion: Die Behandlung der DLK mit ihren verschiedenartigen Symptomen ist schwierig und oftmals erst in enger fachärztlicher Zusammenarbeit adäquat für den Patienten zu erreichen.

Keywords: Behavioral and psychological symptoms; Cholinesterase inhibitors; Dementia; Parkinson’s disease with dementia; Treatment.

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References

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