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Diffuse Lewy Body Disease: Clinical, Pathological, and Neuropsychological Review

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Abstract

The pathophysiological etiologies and clinical presentations of neurodegenerative dementias have been found to be complex and heterogeneous. Recently, Lewy body inclusions have been identified as an etiological factor in 20–34% of autopsied dementia cases. The term diffuse Lewy body disease (DLBD) is generally accepted as the diagnostic term representative of this currently under-reported and under-recognized disease. This article reviews the literature on the clinical, pathological, and neuropsychological features of this disorder. Differential diagnostic issues are discussed as well as current pharmacological treatment. Nine confirmed cases of DLBD are presented to demonstrate the various features of this disorder. The diagnostic implications of neuropsychological examination results are discussed in relation to other common dementing neurologic diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

    Cheryl A. Luis & Wiley Mittenberg

  2. Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center and, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

    Cheryl A. Luis & Carlton S. Gass

  3. The Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami;, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

    Cheryl A. Luis & Ranjan Duara

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  1. Cheryl A. Luis
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Luis, C.A., Mittenberg, W., Gass, C.S. et al. Diffuse Lewy Body Disease: Clinical, Pathological, and Neuropsychological Review. Neuropsychol Rev 9, 137–150 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021626420760

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