Dementia with Lewy bodies is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that shares characteristics of both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. While it accounts for a significant portion of dementia cases, treatment options specifically tailored for DLB are lacking. However, a recent study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden sheds light on the potential cognitive benefits of cholinesterase inhibitor treatment for individuals with DLB, offering hope for better management of this challenging condition.
Lewy body disease encompasses a spectrum of disorders, including dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease with and without dementia. DLB, in particular, affects around 10-15% of individuals with dementia and is characterized by a myriad of symptoms affecting various aspects of daily life.
Assistant Professor Hong Xu from the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society at Karolinska Institutet explains, “The lack of approved treatments for DLB often leads clinicians to rely on medications designed for Alzheimer’s disease, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, to alleviate symptoms. However, the efficacy of these treatments has been uncertain due to inconsistent trial results and limited long-term data.”
The recent study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet focused on examining the long-term effects of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and memantine in comparison to no treatment in over 1,000 patients with DLB over a period of up to ten years. The findings indicated that ChEIs may potentially slow down cognitive decline over a five-year period when compared to memantine or no treatment. Additionally, patients receiving ChEIs showed a reduced risk of mortality in the first year following diagnosis.
Professor Maria Eriksdotter, also from the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society at Karolinska Institutet, emphasizes, “Our results underscore the potential benefits of ChEIs in managing symptoms of DLB and advocate for revising treatment guidelines to incorporate these findings.”
It is important to note that due to the observational nature of the study, definitive conclusions regarding causality cannot be made. Factors such as lifestyle habits, frailty, blood pressure, and the presence of Alzheimer’s disease co-pathology were not accounted for in the analysis, which could have influenced the outcomes. Furthermore, accurately diagnosing DLB remains a challenge, posing a limitation to the study.
The research was primarily funded by various institutions including StratNeuro, the Center for Innovative Medicine (CIMED), KI foundations, and the Swedish Research Council.
