Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Improvement in Patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Although dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a degenerative disease involving irreversible pathological changes and subsequent progressive cognitive decline, some patients have presented with improved cognitive function at follow-ups. Their clinical and neuropsychological characteristics and the factors influencing this improvement remain unclear.

To investigate differences in clinical and neuropsychological characteristics between DLB patients with and without cognitive improvement at a one-year follow-up, and to identify predictive factors of cognitive improvement.

This retrospective study included 60 DLB patients, 28 patients in the improved group, and 32 patients in the non-improved group. A multiple linear regression model was used to compare changes in cognitive function test scores between groups over the course of one year. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the odds ratios (ORs) of depressive symptoms as a predictor for cognitive improvement.

The improved group showed significant increases in immediate and delayed verbal memory function in one year over the non-improved group. We also found that baseline depressive symptoms were associated with an increased probability of cognitive improvement (OR 1.234, CI 1.043- 1.460).

Depressive symptoms at baseline were related to a higher probability of a cognitive improvement at one-year follow-up. In addition, immediate and delayed verbal memory function showed significant improvement during one year in improved patients compared to non-improved patients.