2025/09/02 by Oluwatosin Atewogboye, John‐Paul Taylor, J. Harrison · 1 voice
Medicine · Psychology · Neuroscience · #Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research #Sleep and related disorders #Neurological Disorders and Treatments
paper · doi:10.1080/17512433.2025.2562151
openalex publication_date 2025/09/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/16
INTRODUCTION: Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer's disease, characterized by a complex combination of cognitive, neuropsychiatric, motor, autonomic, and sleep-related symptoms. Symptom fluctuation, polypharmacy risks, and high sensitivity to commonly used drugs present unique challenges for management. AREAS COVERED: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the symptomatic management of DLB, organized by clinical domains. It critically evaluates current pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies for cognitive impairment, hallucinations, parkinsonism, autonomic dysfunction, and sleep disturbances. Evidence is drawn from clinical trials, meta-analyses, and extrapolated findings from related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. EXPERT OPINION: Effective DLB management requires an individualized, symptom-prioritized approach that carefully balances therapeutic benefit with potential adverse effects, particularly given the high risk of antipsychotic sensitivity and treatment-induced worsening of symptoms. Despite recent progress, evidence remains sparse for many symptom domains. Greater investment in DLB-specific clinical trials and development of targeted therapies is urgently needed to improve patient outcomes.