One year follow-up of parkinsonism in dementia with Lewy bodies

The progression of parkinsonism over 1 year was evaluated in a prospective cohort of patients (n = 338), suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB ), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD). Parkinsonism was as sessed using the modified Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Signifi cant parkinsonism was significantly commoner in DLB sufferers (71%) than am ongst patients with AD (7%) or VaD (10%). DLB patients with established par kinsonism had an annual increase in severity of 9%, but progression was mor e rapid (49% in 1 year) in patients with early parkinsonism. Parkinsonism w as frequent at ail severities in DLB patients, but usually only present in other dementias when MMSE<10. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.