Light shed on role of fats and proteins in Lewy Body dementia

Increased levels of certain fats and proteins found in one of the most common forms of dementia, Lewy body dementia, could help with diagnosis and test for the effectiveness of treatments.

Researchers at Newcastle University, including those supported and affiliated with the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)’s Dementia Theme, have moved a step closer to identifying the cause of Lewy body dementia, with a publication in the journal Acta Neuropathologica.

Lewy body dementia affects over 100,000 people in the UK and results in a decline in memory and the ability to concentrate for the person affected, but also shows fluctuating levels of alertness, problems with movement and visual hallucinations.

Lead for the research, Dr Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi (pictured) said:

The findings from this study are significant not only as they bring us closer to finding out why nerve cells die in Lewy body dementia, but also importantly, pave the way towards sensitive and accurate testing for the disease.

Information and image above, courtesy of the Newcastle University Press Office, read the full article here

Reference: Kurzawa-Akanbi, M., Tammireddy, S., Fabrik, I. et al. Altered ceramide metabolism is a feature in the extracellular vesicle-mediated spread of alpha-synuclein in Lewy body disorders. Acta Neuropathol 142, 961-984 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-021-02367-3