Predicting cognitive decline using neuropsychiatric symptoms in prodromal Lewy body disease

Background Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in Lewy body diseases, including dementia with bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) dementia, occur frequently at an early stage progression. Such are significantly associated quality of life, caregiver burden functional limitations. Limited evidence exists, however, outlining the relationship between NPS cognitive decline. Methods Data from 217 participants were derived three cohort studies. Patients diagnosed either MCI (MCI-LB, n = 67), PD-MCI (n 56) or Alzheimer’s (MCI-AD, 39) a group healthy older adults 55) completed comprehensive neuropsychological neuropsychiatric assessment followed up longitudinally for median years. identified baseline by Inventory (NPI) included as predictors linear regressions mixed effects models to assess performance on range tests both longitudinally. Results At baseline, most prevalent severe among MCI-LB (49% NPI score >4 least one symptom) controls (7% >4). Total was not related function any domain group. Greater total steeper rates decline patients measure processing speed (p .01). Among adults, only sleep disturbance global cognition .005). None patient groups showed association individual function. Conclusions The lack significant found seen suggests that this prodromal disease, appear be limited clinical impact indicates mechanisms may differ disease. Future work will investigate these using multimodal imaging data cohort.