Dementia with Lewy bodies: Why are some brain regions more affected than others?
Dementia with Lewy bodies is one of the most common forms of dementia in older adults, after Alzheimer's disease. It takes its name from "Lewy bodies," abnormal clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein, first identified by neurologist Friedrich Lewy, that accumulate inside neurons and contribute to damaging them. The disease manifests through visual hallucinations, fluctuating cognition,…
Dementia with Lewy bodies, a common form of dementia, is caused by abnormal protein clumps called Lewy bodies. While the brain tissue loss associated with this disease is not random, researchers have discovered a precise pattern of cortical thinning in specific brain regions. This thinning is linked to particular genes, neurotransmitters, and the brain's connection network.
By comparing MRI brain scans of individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies to those of healthy individuals, the research team observed marked cortical thinning in the parietal, temporal, and occipital regions. Further analysis revealed that these affected regions have gene expression related to mitochondrial function, synapses, and unique GABA-related genes.
This suggests that certain brain regions may be inherently more fragile and prone to degeneration. Additionally, the affected brain regions show distinctive patterns of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA receptors, which could explain symptoms like visual hallucinations and sensitivity to benzodiazepine-type medications. The cortical thinning follows the brain's major structural connectivity pathways, indicating that the disease may spread from one region to another along these connections.
The study suggests that targeting GABAergic inhibitory circuits in these vulnerable regions could be a potential target for new treatments for dementia with Lewy bodies.
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