Simple standardised neuropsychological assessments aid in the differentialdiagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies from Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

Consecutive patients from a dementia case register received a standardised evaluation which incorporated a neuropsychological assessment with the Camb ridge Assessment for disorders in the elderly (CAMCOG). Operationalised cli nical diagnoses were made (consensus criteria for dementia with Levy, bodie s, DLB; NINCDS-ADRDA for Alzheimer's disease, AD, NINCDS AIRENS for vascula r dementia, VaD), Two-hundred and twenty-eight patients were studied (DLB 5 4, AD102, VaD 72), DLB patients had significantly better performance on rec ent memory than AD patients, but more impaired visuospatial praxis. DLB pat ients also had significantly better recent memory than those with VaD, Opti mal cut-off points for the recent memory:praxis ratio achieved good discrim ination between DLB and both other dementias.