The Study
Lewy body pathology exacerbates brain hypometabolism and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease
This study looked at people who already had memory problems and found that those with two types of brain changes (Alzheimer’s and Lewy bodies) tended to get worse faster than those with just Alzheimer’s. But it didn’t make anyone have these changes — it just watched what happened over time. So we can say the two things are linked, but we can’t say one causes the other.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Some people with Alzheimer’s also have a second type of brain gunk (Lewy bodies) that makes their brain work even worse.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 554 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — this means doctors can better predict who will decline faster and tailor treatments or trials accordingly.
- 2People with both Alzheimer’s and Lewy bodies had 15% faster memory loss and more brain energy loss in the back of the brain; the test for Lewy bodies in spinal fluid was 96% accurate.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nature Communications
Year
2024
Authors
L. Collij, S. Mastenbroek, N. Mattsson‐Carlgren, O. Strandberg, Ruben Smith, S. Janelidze, S. Palmqvist, R. Ossenkoppele, Oskar Hansson
Related Content
Claims (6)
People who have both Alzheimer’s and another brain condition called Lewy bodies show more severe energy loss in certain back parts of the brain than people with just Alzheimer’s, which means the two conditions together might mess up brain function in unique ways.
Scientists have found a blood test-like method that can detect a specific brain problem called Lewy body pathology in people with Alzheimer’s, and it’s accurate over 96% of the time — meaning it could help doctors spot this common brain issue without needing an autopsy.
People with Alzheimer’s who also have Lewy bodies don’t have more of the Alzheimer’s proteins (amyloid and tau) than those without Lewy bodies. Their faster mental decline is probably because the Lewy body proteins add extra damage on top, not because their Alzheimer’s is worse.
People with Alzheimer’s who also have another brain condition called Lewy bodies tend to forget things and lose mental skills 15% faster than those with just Alzheimer’s. This was measured using standard memory and thinking tests.
People with Alzheimer’s who also have abnormal protein clumps called Lewy bodies tend to have worse memory, thinking, and language skills at the start of their diagnosis, compared to those with only Alzheimer’s changes in the brain.
When the brain uses less sugar for energy, older people tend to forget things or think more slowly than they used to.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.