From protein biomarkers to proteomics in dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia. Despite considerable research progress, there remain gaps in our understanding of the pathophysiology and there is no disease-modifying treatment. Proteomics is a powerful tool to elucidate complex biological pathways across heterogenous conditions. This review summarizes the widely used proteomic methods and presents evidence for protein dysregulation in the brain and peripheral tissues in DLB. Proteomics of post-mortem brain tissue shows that DLB shares common features with other dementias, such as synaptic dysfunction, but retains a unique protein signature. Promising diagnostic biomarkers are being identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, and peripheral tissues, such as serum Heart-type fatty acid binding protein. Research is needed to track these changes from the prodromal stage to established dementia, with standardized workflows to ensure replicability. Identifying novel protein targets in causative biological pathways could lead to the development of new targeted therapeutics or the stratification of participants for clinical trials.