Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodies

ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to characterize early-stage dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) focusing on motor and non-motor symptoms.MethodsThis cross-sectional study prospectively included newly diagnosed DLB patients within 3 years of cognitive symptom onset. Comparisons were made with ind...

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Main Authors: Anna Planas-Ballvé, José Rios, Lourdes Ispierto, Mireia Gea, Laia Grau, Marta Jiménez, Cynthia Cáceres, Sílvia Martínez, Katrin Beyer, Ramiro Álvarez, Pau Pastor, Dolores Vilas
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1555175/full
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author Anna Planas-Ballvé
Anna Planas-Ballvé
José Rios
Lourdes Ispierto
Mireia Gea
Laia Grau
Marta Jiménez
Cynthia Cáceres
Sílvia Martínez
Katrin Beyer
Ramiro Álvarez
Pau Pastor
Dolores Vilas
Dolores Vilas
author_facet Anna Planas-Ballvé
Anna Planas-Ballvé
José Rios
Lourdes Ispierto
Mireia Gea
Laia Grau
Marta Jiménez
Cynthia Cáceres
Sílvia Martínez
Katrin Beyer
Ramiro Álvarez
Pau Pastor
Dolores Vilas
Dolores Vilas
author_sort Anna Planas-Ballvé
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to characterize early-stage dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) focusing on motor and non-motor symptoms.MethodsThis cross-sectional study prospectively included newly diagnosed DLB patients within 3 years of cognitive symptom onset. Comparisons were made with individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and motor and non-motor symptoms were assessed using structured interviews and validated scales and questionnaires.ResultsA total of 107 participants were included (23 DLB, 27 PD, 26 AD, and 31 controls). DLB patients (median age 75 years, median disease duration since diagnosis 2 months) commonly reported motor symptoms, including gait disturbances (91.3%), tremor (73.9%), and bradykinesia (87%), with tremor being predominantly unilateral (76.5%) and action-type (52.9%). The most frequent motor subtype was akinetic-rigid (52.2%). Motor symptoms were similar to PD, except for more frequent falls (34.8% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.044) and gait disturbances in DLB patients (91.3% vs. 63%, p = 0.019). Non-motor symptoms, particularly visual hallucinations and neuropsychiatric symptoms were more prevalent in DLB than in PD, while sleep and autonomic symptoms were similar. An abnormal orthostatic test was more frequent in DLB than in PD (45.5% vs. 11.5%, p < 0.008). Compared to AD, all non-motor symptoms were significantly more frequent in DLB. Finally, DLB patients had lower functional independence and quality of life than both PD and AD (p < 0.0001).ConclusionEarly-stage DLB closely resembles PD in motor symptoms but has more neuropsychiatric non-motor symptoms compared to PD and overall non-motor symptoms than AD.
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spelling doaj-art-2a46b4fa2e444c4f80aa9d90b6cda66b2025-08-20T02:05:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-03-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15551751555175Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodiesAnna Planas-Ballvé0Anna Planas-Ballvé1José Rios2Lourdes Ispierto3Mireia Gea4Laia Grau5Marta Jiménez6Cynthia Cáceres7Sílvia Martínez8Katrin Beyer9Ramiro Álvarez10Pau Pastor11Dolores Vilas12Dolores Vilas13Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Complex Hospitalari Moisès Broggi, Barcelona, SpainMovement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, Biostatistics Unit, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainMovement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainMovement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainEpilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, SpainEpilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, SpainNeuropsychology Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, SpainNeuropsychology Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, SpainDepartment of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, SpainMovement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainMovement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainMovement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainObjectiveThe objective of our study was to characterize early-stage dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) focusing on motor and non-motor symptoms.MethodsThis cross-sectional study prospectively included newly diagnosed DLB patients within 3 years of cognitive symptom onset. Comparisons were made with individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and motor and non-motor symptoms were assessed using structured interviews and validated scales and questionnaires.ResultsA total of 107 participants were included (23 DLB, 27 PD, 26 AD, and 31 controls). DLB patients (median age 75 years, median disease duration since diagnosis 2 months) commonly reported motor symptoms, including gait disturbances (91.3%), tremor (73.9%), and bradykinesia (87%), with tremor being predominantly unilateral (76.5%) and action-type (52.9%). The most frequent motor subtype was akinetic-rigid (52.2%). Motor symptoms were similar to PD, except for more frequent falls (34.8% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.044) and gait disturbances in DLB patients (91.3% vs. 63%, p = 0.019). Non-motor symptoms, particularly visual hallucinations and neuropsychiatric symptoms were more prevalent in DLB than in PD, while sleep and autonomic symptoms were similar. An abnormal orthostatic test was more frequent in DLB than in PD (45.5% vs. 11.5%, p < 0.008). Compared to AD, all non-motor symptoms were significantly more frequent in DLB. Finally, DLB patients had lower functional independence and quality of life than both PD and AD (p < 0.0001).ConclusionEarly-stage DLB closely resembles PD in motor symptoms but has more neuropsychiatric non-motor symptoms compared to PD and overall non-motor symptoms than AD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1555175/fulldementia with Lewy bodiesmotor symptomsnon-motor symptomsneurodegenerative diseasesdifferential diagnosis
spellingShingle Anna Planas-Ballvé
Anna Planas-Ballvé
José Rios
Lourdes Ispierto
Mireia Gea
Laia Grau
Marta Jiménez
Cynthia Cáceres
Sílvia Martínez
Katrin Beyer
Ramiro Álvarez
Pau Pastor
Dolores Vilas
Dolores Vilas
Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodies
Frontiers in Neurology
dementia with Lewy bodies
motor symptoms
non-motor symptoms
neurodegenerative diseases
differential diagnosis
title Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodies
title_full Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodies
title_fullStr Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodies
title_full_unstemmed Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodies
title_short Key motor and non-motor features in early dementia with Lewy bodies
title_sort key motor and non motor features in early dementia with lewy bodies
topic dementia with Lewy bodies
motor symptoms
non-motor symptoms
neurodegenerative diseases
differential diagnosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1555175/full
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