Neuropsychology DLB/AD

Question 1

Visuospatial abilities

Answer 1

Pronounced deficits in visuospatial abilities in DLB compared to AD and HC
- often already present at early stage
- Fragmented letter and cube analysis

Question 2

Memory

Answer 2

Less impaired in DLB compared to AD (episodic)
- retention, recognition and delayed recall (DLB < HC)

Question 3

EF

Answer 3

DLB perform worse on these tasks (stroop, TMT) than AD (and HC)

• findings mixed, meta analysis found no difference (same for processing speed, attention and language)

Question 4

Early signs for DLB

Answer 4

aMCI and na-MCI
- naMCI more likely to develop to DLB

Visual hallucinations

REM behaviour disorder (50% of cases have this before cognitive decline)

Delirium

physical (due to LB in brain stem)
- Hyposmia (less smell)
- constipation

Others
- depression/anxiety more common in DLB than AD
- apathy

Question 5

Treatment

Answer 5

Levodopa (dopamine) to treat motor syptoms

Acetylcholinesterase to increase ACh for cognitive symptoms

NO anti-psychotic meds for hallucinations, oversensitive due to lack of dopamine, worsens symptoms