Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
12:18

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: January 11, 2020

Prevalence of Lewy body pathology and phenotypic associations in patients with mild cognitive impairment: Evidence

Simone Baiardi1,2, Serena Caldera2, Sabina Capellari1,2

  • 1Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences University of Bologna Bologna Italy.

Alzheimer'S & Dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|June 18, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Lewy body (LB) pathology in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is linked to older age and more symptoms. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and LB pathology together accelerate cognitive decline and dementia progression.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pathology

Background:

  • The clinical impact and prevalence of Lewy body (LB) pathology in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are not well-established.
  • Understanding LB pathology is crucial for diagnosing and managing cognitive decline.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and clinical associations of LB pathology in a cohort of patients with MCI.
  • To examine the combined effects of LB pathology and Alzheimer's disease (AD) on cognitive decline in MCI.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed LB pathology using the cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein seed amplification assay in 339 MCI patients.
  • Conducted serial cognitive evaluations over a 3-year follow-up period.
  • Correlated LB pathology with demographic, clinical, and cognitive outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 15% of MCI participants were positive for LB pathology (LB+).
  • LB+ participants were older and had more frequent parkinsonism, falls, and delirium, though not statistically significant.
  • Concomitant LB pathology and AD pathology (AD+/LB+) led to the most rapid cognitive decline and dementia progression.

Conclusions:

  • LB pathology in MCI is associated with older age and increased motor/psychiatric symptoms.
  • Combined AD and LB pathologies significantly accelerate cognitive decline in MCI.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the independent roles of AD and LB pathologies in MCI progression.
Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseasealpha‐synucleindementia with Lewy bodiesreal‐time quaking‐induced conversion assay

More Related Videos

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking07:26

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking

Published on: September 26, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Dementia l: Introduction01:22

Dementia l: Introduction

Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Dementia01:30

Dementia

Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
Interference and Decay01:16

Interference and Decay

Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...