Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Feb;21(2):e14450.
doi: 10.1002/alz.14450. Epub 2025 Jan 10.

Neuropsychological test performance in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kathryn A Wyman-Chick  1   2 , Ece Bayram  3 , Stephanie Gravett  4   5 , Fabrizia D'Antonio  6 , Federico Rodriguez-Porcel  7 , Joseph P M Kane  8 , Tanis J Ferman  9 , Barbara A Olson-Bullis  2 , Bradley F Boeve  10 , Laura Bonanni  11 , Daniel Ferreira  12   13   14 ; Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Lewy Body Dementias Professional Interest Area (LBD PIA) Prodromal Working Group
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Neuropsychological test performance in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kathryn A Wyman-Chick et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Background: We sought to characterize the cognitive profile among individuals with mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) to help guide future clinical criteria.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis included MCI-LB studies with cognitive data from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO (January 1990 to March 2023). MCI-LB scores were compared to controls, MCI due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) groups with random-effects models.

Results: We included 26 studies and 2823 participants. Across all domains, the MCI-LB group performed worse than controls and better than DLB. Compared to MCI-AD, the MCI-LB group performed worse in attention/processing speed (g = -0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.35, -0.12), attention/executive (g = -0.42, 95% CI: -0.56, -0.28); better in verbal immediate recall (g = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.59) and delayed memory (g = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.58).

Discussion: The cognitive profiles in MCI-LB and MCI-AD are consistent with established profiles in DLB and AD. Neuropsychological assessment may be helpful in differential diagnosis, even in early disease states.

Highlights: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis for cognition in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB). Compared to MCI due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD), MCI-LB had worse attention, executive function, and processing speed. Compared to MCI-AD, MCI-LB had better verbal immediate and delayed recall. The MCI-LB group was worse on all cognitive domains than controls, and better than dementia with Lewy bodies. Studies used different tests and there is a need for global efforts for harmonization.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Lewy body; attention; cognition; dementia with Lewy bodies; executive; memory; mild cognitive impairment; neuropsychological testing; prodromal.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

K. W., E. B., S. G., F. D. A., T. J. F., B. A. O. B., and L. B. have nothing to declare. F. R. P. has received honoraria from Biovie. J. P. M. K. has received honoraria from the Eisai and Neurology Academy. B. F. B. has received honorarium for SAB activities for the Tau Consortium—funded by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, and institutional research grant support for clinical trials from Alector, Transposon, Cognition Therapeutics, and E. I. P. Pharma. D. F. consults for BioArctic and has received honoraria from Esteve. Author disclosures are available in the supporting information.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) diagram.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Forest plots for domains significantly differing between MCI‐LB and MCI‐AD groups. Possible MCI‐LB compared to MCI‐AD; Probable MCI‐LB compared to MCI‐AD. ACE‐R, Addenbrooke's cognitive examination revised; CAMCOG, Cambridge Cognitive Examination; CERAD, Eonsortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease; DRS‐2, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale‐2; HVLT, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test; MCI‐AD, mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease; MCI‐LB, mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies; RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; RCF, Rey Complex Figure; TMT A, Trail Making Test Part A; TMT B, Trail Making Test Part B; WMS, Wechsler Memory Scale; WMS‐R, Wechsler Memory Scale‐Revised.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Abdelnour C, Gonzalez MC, Gibson LL, et al. Dementia with Lewy bodies drug therapies in clinical trials: systematic review up to 2022. Neurol Ther. 2023;12(3):727‐749. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Albert MS, DeKosky ST, Dickson D, et al. The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the national institute on aging‐Alzheimer's association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2011;7:270‐279. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Petersen RC. Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity. J Intern Med. 2004;256:183‐194. - PubMed
    1. Winblad B, Palmer K, Kivipelto M, et al. Mild cognitive impairment–beyond controversies, towards a consensus: report of the international working group on mild cognitive impairment. J Intern Med. 2004;256:240‐246. - PubMed
    1. Petersen RC, Smith GE, Waring SC, Ivnik RJ, Tangalos EG, Kokmen E. Mild cognitive impairment: clinical characterization and outcome. Arch Neurol. 1999;56:303‐308. - PubMed

MeSH terms