Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
Diagnostic markers for diagnosing dementia with Lewy bodies: CSF and MIBG cardiac scintigraphy study
Kenji Wada-Isoe1, Michio Kitayama, Kazuhiro Nakaso
1Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. kewada@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
Objective:
This study examined the diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers and iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) cardiac scintigraphy in distinguishing dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Methods:
CSF levels of amyloid beta1-42 (Abeta42) and 181-Thr phosphorylated tau (p-tau) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. (123)I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy was performed in patients with AD and DLB, and control (CTL) subjects.
Results:
Increased CSF levels of p-tau in AD were found compared to DLB patients and CTL subjects (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in CSF levels of Abeta42 between AD and DLB patients. The early and delayed heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratios of (123)I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy were significantly decreased in patients with DLB compared to AD patients and CTL subjects (P<0.01). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the diagnostic value of (123)I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy was superior to that of CSF markers.
Conclusions:
(123)I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy may be useful for discriminating between DLB and AD.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Fundamental Principles of PET
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
