Faster decline of very prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies when amyloid positive

The cognitive and neuroimaging evolution during dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from the prodromal phase (Pro-DLB; subjective cognitive impairment [SCI] to mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) according to amyloid beta (Aβ) status is poorly understood.

The decline of Lewy-Memento patients with SCI or MCI was compared according to Aβ status across four groups: Pro-DLB, prodromal Alzheimer's disease (Pro-AD), Pro-DLB+AD, and a group without prodromal DLB and AD (no symptoms [NS]). We observed the evolution of cognitive, functional, quality of life measures, brain volumetry, and metabolism on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

In the Pro-DLB and Pro-DLB+AD groups, Aβ+ patients had more cognitive and functional decline than the Aβ- patients. In the Pro-AD and NS groups, Aβ+ patients had more functional decline. Aβ+ Pro-AD showed a greater volume decline of the brain (left insula).

The presence of amyloid lesions worsens very prodromal DLB patients over time, both cognitively and functionally, but without increasing atrophy.

Patients at a very prodromal stage, subjective cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment, had a clinical diagnosis of either prodromal Alzheimer's disease (Pro-AD), prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies (Pro-DLB), Pro-DLB+AD, or no diagnosis.Amyloid beta positive (Aβ+) patients had more functional decline, whatever the group.Aβ+ DLB patients (Pro-DLB and Pro-DLB+AD) had more global cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination) decline.Aβ+ Pro-AD patients showed a greater volume decline of the left insula.