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Published on: September 1, 2018
Delayed blink reflex in dementia with Lewy bodies
Laura Bonanni1, Francesca Anzellotti, Sara Varanese
1Department of Oncology and Neuroscience, University G D'Annunzio, G D'Annunzio Foundation CESI, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|September 20, 2007
Summary
Blink reflexes are significantly delayed in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) patients compared to controls and other neurodegenerative diseases. This delay may correlate with cognitive fluctuations in DLB.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common neurodegenerative disorder.
- Blink reflexes (BR) are electrophysiological measures reflecting brainstem and trigeminal nerve function.
- Abnormalities in BR have been observed in various neurological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate blink reflex (BR) abnormalities in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
- To compare BR in DLB with other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
- To explore correlations between BR latency and clinical features such as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and cognitive fluctuations.
Main Methods:
- Blink reflexes (BR) were elicited by electric stimulation of the supraorbital nerve.
- Recordings were performed in 26 DLB patients, 26 MSA patients, 26 PD patients (with/without RBD), 20 AD patients, 20 PSP patients (without RBD), and 30 healthy controls.
- Statistical analyses included comparison of BR latency and correlation with clinical scores.
Main Results:
- Significantly delayed BR latency (p<0.001) was observed exclusively in DLB patients compared to controls and other patient groups.
- Over half (53.8%) of DLB patients exhibited BR latency exceeding 2 standard deviations of the control mean (36.1–46.3 ms).
- BR latency did not correlate with RBD presence but showed a significant positive correlation (rho=0.68) with cognitive fluctuation severity. Delayed R2 component was predominantly bilateral (71.5%).
Conclusions:
- Delayed blink reflexes are a distinct neurophysiological marker in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
- BR abnormalities in DLB are not associated with REM sleep behavior disorder but may reflect underlying pathology related to cognitive fluctuations.
- These findings suggest BR can aid in differentiating DLB from other neurodegenerative conditions.
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