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Covariant perfusion patterns provide clues to the origin of cognitive fluctuations and attentional dysfunction in Dementia with Lewy bodies

Lookup NU author(s): Professor John-Paul TaylorORCiD, Dr Sean Colloby, Professor Ian McKeith, Professor John O'Brien

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Abstract

Background: Fluctuating cognition (FC), particularly in attention, is a core and defining symptom in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) but is seen much less frequently in Alzheimer's dementia (AD). However, its neurobiological origin is poorly understood. The aim of our study was therefore to characterize perfusion patterns in DLB patients that are associated with the severity and frequency of FC as measured both clinically and using objective neuropsychological assessments. Methods: Spatial covariance analyses were applied to data derived from single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) HMPAO brain imaging in 19 DLB and 23 AD patients. Patients underwent clinical assessment of their FC and cognitive function as well as objective testing of their attention. Results: Covariant perfusion principal components (PCs) were not associated with either FC or cognitive or attentional measures in AD. However, in DLB patients, the second PC (defined as DLB-cognitive motor pattern, DLB-PCI2) which was characterized by bilateral relative increases in cerebellum, basal ganglia, and supplementary motor areas and widespread bilateral decreases in parietal regions, positively correlated with poorer cognitive function, increased FC and worse attentional function measured both clinically and neurophysiologically (p < 0.05) as well as with the severity of bradykinesia (p = 0.04). Conclusions: FC in DLB appears distinct from those seen in AD, and likely to be driven by internal neurobiological perturbations in brain circuitry as evidenced using spatial covariance analyses of cerebral perfusion. FC and certain aspects of attentional dysfunction in DLB may, in part, depend upon both distributed motor and non-motor networks.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Taylor JP, Colloby SJ, McKeith IG, O'Brien JT

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Psychogeriatrics

Year: 2013

Volume: 25

Issue: 12

Pages: 1917-1928

Print publication date: 01/12/2013

Online publication date: 23/10/2013

Date deposited: 26/02/2014

ISSN (print): 1041-6102

ISSN (electronic): 1741-203X

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610213001488

DOI: 10.1017/S1041610213001488

PubMed id: 24148774


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Newcastle University
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Unit based at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
G9817682Medical Research Council, UK
NF-SI-0611-10048National Institute for Health Research
WT088441MAIntermediate Clinical Fellowship

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