Dementia With Lewy Bodies Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Dementia With Lewy Bodies Clinical Trials?

Dementia with Lewy Bodies, or DLB, is one of the many types of progressive dementia. The condition is characterized by a decline in reasoning, independent functioning, and thinking. 

Symptoms include recurring visual hallucinations, cognition fluctuation, REM sleep disorder, memory loss, and nervous system malfunction.

DLB is linked to abnormal brain protein deposits (alpha-synuclein), also called Lewy Bodies. They affect the brain’s chemicals leading to problems with movement, mood, thinking, and behavior. 

Dementia with Lewy Bodies clinical trials are designed to understand the disease development in patients, its impact, and the best ways to treat the condition. These aim to understand the progression of the disease in patients. 

Why Is Dementia with Lewy Bodies Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

DLB is the second most common type of dementia affecting over 1.4 million people in the US. The symptoms of Dementia with Lewy Bodies mostly appear in people above 50 years old. However, it can affect younger people too. The survival rate is about five to seven years after being diagnosed with DLB. The condition accounts for nearly five percent of dementia cases in old individuals.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies clinical trials are underway to identify the specific cause and cure. Researchers continue to study DLB through trials to find treatments that can slow and stop the brain’s cell damage and prolong the patients’ life.

What Are the Types of Treatments Available for Dementia with Lewy Bodies?

As no cure or prevention treatment is available, the plan revolves around managing symptoms of DLB and identifying ways to make daily tasks easier. Hence, treatments help improve the quality of life of patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies, not cure the disease.

For example, a Cholinesterase inhibitor is an effective drug for managing changes in thinking. It can also help with DLB symptoms. Other medications may include antidepressants.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials for?

2021: New evidence on the management of Lewy body dementia-The study summarizes new evidence for non-pharmacological and pharmacological management of DLB. It shows that instead of isolating treatments for symptoms at the cost of another, an interdisciplinary approach should be used for the best therapeutic gains.

2016: The Case for Antipsychotics in Dementia with Lewy Bodies- The report shows hallucination is a common symptom in patients with DLB. However, atypical antipsychotic drugs should be avoided because of adverse reactions. However, more research is needed to determine a better alternative to antipsychotics in DLB patients.

Who Are Some of the Key Opinion Leaders/Researchers/Institutions Conducting Clinical Trial Research?

Lewy Body Dementia Research Center of Excellence

It is a comprehensive and first-ever research center to perform Dementia with Lewy Bodies research and clinical trials. It aims to streamline DLB science while helping patients and families.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

It is a non-profit strongly committed to supporting patients, increasing awareness, and assisting DLB scientific advances.