THEA dementia is a word that frightens: from the medical point of view, however, it contains different neurodegenerative diseasesof different gravity, united by a progressive decline in cognitive and behavioral functions. Often, especially in the initial stages, the various types of dementia present Similar symptoms. This makes the correct diagnosis more complex. That’s why research is aiming for identify increasingly effective methods to precisely distinguish the different forms of dementia. From this point of view, the study of wisdom could really make the difference, at least as regards Dementia in Lewy bodies.
Dementia in Lewy bodies: little known but very widespread
After Alzheimer’s, the Dementia in Lewy bodies (DLB) It is the Second more common form of neurodegenerative dementia. It represents 30% of neurodegenerative diseases and 15% of all forms of dementia. Is characterized by presence of anomalous proteinscalled precisely Lewy bodies, which accumulate inside the nerve cells.
How it manifests itself
From a clinical point of view, those who suffer from dementia in Lewy bodies show common symptoms:
- cognitive fluctuations (In practice, at moments you are shiny in others, you have confused, for example you cannot use the computer),
- muscle rigidity and slowness in movements (For this reason it is easy to exchange it for Parkinson’s. Furthermore, you have difficulty evaluating the depth in space, so even parking at a certain point can become difficult. Or you cannot sit at the center of a chair),
- visual hallucinations (Patients report seeing children and animals who are not present in the house. In the initial stages of the disease, you are aware of these hallucinziuons and this creates strong frustration)
- sleep problemsespecially in the REM phase. The latter symptoms can also appear many years before the disease manifests itself. In particular, people tend to kick while sleeping and having many agitated dreams and acting them and therefore to kick as they sleep.
Cognitive disorders consist in difficulty in performing complex tasks such as the use of the computer and problems in the perception of space, for example, difficulty to evaluate the depth, for this reason, even parking at a certain point can become difficult. Or you cannot sit at the center of a chair. Some of these symptoms, however, are common to other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. This makes the diagnosis of this type of dementia often uncertain and delayed.
After Alzheimer’s dementia in Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common form of neurodegenerative dementia (Getty Images)
The discovery: two salivary biomarkers
A study conducted by the Department of Neuroscience of the Sapienza University of Rome, recently published on Journal of Alzheimers’ Diseaseled to light two potential biomarkers in saliva, Useful for distinguishing the dementia in Lewy bodies from other forms of dementia.
«The research involved a sample of patients divided into four groups of 20 people each: with dementia in Lewy bodies, with Alzheimer’s, with Parkinson’s and healthy individuals. In the saliva, the concentrations of alfa-sanuclein and Tau protein were measured in particular, two proteins already known for their crucial role in neurodegenerative processes »explains the doctor Fabrizia D’Antonio, researcher of the Department of Human Neuroscience, who carried out the study in collaboration with Dr. Giorgio Vivacqua, an expert in salivary markers of the Rome biomedical campus and with the Professor Giuseppe Bruno at the Department of Human Neuroscience.
What can the saliva reveal
The results highlighted higher values of these proteins in patients with dementia than healthy subjects. What is particularly interesting, however, is the possibility to distinguish more clearly the various forms of dementia, thanks to the observation of two specific forms of such Biomarkers:
1. Tau phosphorylated protein (PS199-Tau): useful for differentiating Parkinson’s disease from Alzheimer’s dementia and Lewy’s bodies dementia.
2. Alfa-Sinuclein oligomerica: Present in greater quantities in patients with DLB compared to those with Alzheimer’s, thus allowing a further distinction between the two forms of dementia.
What are the advantages for the sick
«The possibility of making a diagnosis through a simple withdrawal of saliva offers important advantages, even if it is important to remember that this is a preliminary study. At the moment a test has not yet been carried out to be able to submit to patients, but our purpose is identify dementia as soon as possibleeven before he manifests himself to be able to have more opportunities for care »clarifies Dr. D’Antonio. The research is however continuing and the advantages of being able to do a simple exam to find out if you suffer from this type of dementia are not few. Here are the main ones:
– Not invasiveness: Compared to exams such as lumbar puncture or more complex tests, a salivary test is decidedly simpler and less stressful.
– Speed and reliability: Arrange a clear indicator to distinguish between dementia in the first stadiums, still faded from a symptomatic point of view, can accelerate the choice of the most appropriate therapeutic path.
– Reduction of diagnostic errors: Lewy bodies dementia is often confused with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. A tool that makes diagnosis more immediate could reduce waiting times and errors.
In the future it will be easier to take care of this dementia
Even if the study represents a remarkable step forward for the diagnosis of this form of dementia, they are Further investigations required To confirm the data collected on a larger sample of people. «If these results were consolidated, they would open new perspectives for diagnosis Differential of the most common dementias, with concrete benefits for taking charge of the patient and for the planning of targeted treatments “concludes the expert.
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