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Please go to our NEW YORK RESOURCES/PROFESSIONALS section on this website for a list of doctors who are aware of LBD.
Who can Diagnose LBD?
Many doctors and other health care professionals are not familiar with LBD, so people may see several physicians before receiving a correct diagnosis. A general practitioner is usually the first professional visited by persons who are encountering changes in thinking, behavior, or movement. But, neurologists more frequently have the knowledge required to diagnose LBD. Geriatric psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and geriatricians may also be skilled in diagnosing the condition.
Which Tests Are Used to Diagnose LBD?
Currently, there are no scans or tests that can absolutely diagnose LBD. The disease can only be diagnosed completely through a brain autopsy after death.
However, medical professionals may conduct various tests to identify LBD from other diseases. These tests may involve:
- Medical history and examination—A review of previous and current illnesses, medications, and current symptoms and tests of movement and memory give the doctor valuable information.
- Medical tests—Laboratory studies can help rule out other diseases and hormonal or vitamin deficiencies that can be associated with cognitive changes.
- Neuropsychological tests—These tests are used to assess memory and other cognitive functions and can help identify affected brain regions.
The following tests can help support an LBD diagnosis:
- REM sleep test
- DaTscan
- PET scan
- MRI
- Amprion SYNTAP Biomarker Test (spinal fluid test)
- Skin biopsy that is highly sensitive and specific for LBD and other alpha-synuclein disorders such as Parkinson’s – through CND Life Sciences: https://cndlifesciences.com/
For detailed information, please see this Patient Handout
3 Minute Test
Dr. James Galvin, a neurologist and Director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami, has developed a 3 minute test to evaluate signs of Lewy body dementia. The test contains 10 yes-or-no questions. Six of them cover non-motor symptoms such as unreasoned thinking, hallucinations or excessive sleep and four include motor symptom aspects such as rigidity in the arms and legs, slowness of movement and trouble with balance.
Dr. Galvin advises that this test should be performed by a physician (preferably a neurologist).
| Please rate the following physical findings being present or absent for the past 6 months and symptoms as being present or absent for at least 3 times over the past 6 months. Does the patient… | Yes | No |
| Have slowness in initiating and maintaining movement or have frequent hesitations or pauses during movement? | ||
| Have rigidity (with or without cogwheeling) on passive range of motion in any of the 4 extremities? | ||
| Have a loss of postural stability (balance) with or without frequent falls? | ||
| Have a tremor at rest in any of the 4 extremities or head? | ||
| Have excessive daytime sleepiness and/or seem drowsy and lethargic when awake? | ||
| Have episodes of illogical thinking or incoherent, random thoughts? | ||
| Have frequent staring spells or periods of blank looks? | ||
| Have visual hallucinations (see things not really there)? | ||
| Appear to act out his/her dreams (kick, punch, thrash, shout or scream)? | ||
| Have orthostatic hypotension or other signs of autonomic insufficiency? | ||
| Total |
Total how many of the above 10 items occurred at least three times during the past six months. If the total is three or more, there is a very high likelihood of the presence of Lewy Bodies. Discuss the results with your medical specialist.
Written Tests
To measure memory and thinking abilities, a quick written test can be done at your physician’s office. This can indicate dementia in general but wouldn’t confirm it being LBD. There are tests available that will take a few hours that can help recognize Lewy body dementia.
National Memory Screening Programs
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has this screening available in New York:
http://www.afascreenings.org/search-results?country=US&filter=all&province=NY
SCANS
A DaTSCAN, which is available only at certain medical centers, can help diagnose Parkinson’s disease and help differentiate Lewy Body Dementia from Alzheimer’s disease. It detects loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain.
Please go to our NEW YORK RESOURCES/PROFESSIONALS section on this website for a list of doctors who are aware of LBD.
