Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a challenging condition that shares similarities with both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Unfortunately, long-term treatments for DLB are not well-studied, leaving many patients without clear options.
However, a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggests that a drug commonly used for Alzheimer’s may offer some hope for those with DLB.
DLB is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s, accounting for about 10–15% of dementia cases.
It is characterized by a range of symptoms, including changes in sleep patterns, behavior, thinking abilities, movement, and the regulation of automatic bodily functions.
Currently, there are no approved treatments specifically for DLB, so doctors often prescribe drugs meant for Alzheimer’s disease, such as cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and memantine, to help manage symptoms.
However, the effectiveness of these treatments for DLB has been uncertain due to mixed results in previous studies and a lack of long-term research.
In this new study, researchers examined the long-term effects of ChEIs and memantine on 1,095 patients with DLB over a period of up to ten years.
They compared the outcomes of patients who took these drugs with those who received no treatment.
The findings suggest that ChEIs may help slow cognitive decline over five years compared to memantine or no treatment. Additionally, patients who took ChEIs had a reduced risk of death in the first year after their diagnosis.
“Our results highlight the potential benefits of ChEIs for patients with DLB and support updating treatment guidelines,” said Maria Eriksdotter, a professor at Karolinska Institutet and the senior author of the study.
However, it’s important to note that the study was observational, meaning the researchers could not definitively prove that the drugs caused the observed benefits.
The study also had some limitations, such as not having data on patient lifestyle habits, frailty, blood pressure, or the presence of Alzheimer’s disease alongside DLB. Diagnosing DLB accurately is also challenging, which adds another layer of complexity to the research.
Despite these limitations, the study offers promising evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors could be a valuable option for managing cognitive decline in people with DLB.
This research could lead to updated treatment guidelines and provide new hope for patients and their families.
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Source: KSR.
