Frontal lobe dysfunction is associated with reduced DAT-SPECT accumulation in Lewy body disease.

INTRODUCTION

Lewy body disease (LBD) causes olfactory or cognitive dysfunction even before motor symptoms emerge. Recent reports indicate that the dopamine transporter (DAT), which can be imaged using single-photon emission computed tomography (123I-ioflupane SPECT), is related to olfactory and cognitive dysfunction in LBD patients. We suspected that decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the frontal lobe might be involved in these relationships. If so, then the results of these examinations may be useful in assessing the pathological progression of Lewy bodies.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 139 de novo consecutive patients with LBD. We used the Odor Stick Identification Test for Japanese (OSIT-J) and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) to evaluate olfactory and frontal lobe dysfunction, respectively. Among the 139 patients, ultimately 84 patients were analyzed and underwent 123I-ioflupane SPECT within 3 months (before or after) of the OSIT-J and FAB. We categorized patients on the basis of whether frontal lobe CBF was reduced (n = 28) or normal (n = 56).

RESULTS

The average OSIT-J and FAB scores were 4.0 and 14.1, respectively, and the scores on the two tests were significantly correlated. Furthermore, OSIT-J scores were significantly correlated with the specific binding ratio (SBR) in both groups. The SBR was correlated with FAB scores in patients with reduced CBF in the frontal lobe, but not in those with normal CBF.

CONCLUSION

Frontal lobe dysfunction and striatum dysfunction are correlated in LBD patients only after CBF has declined. Also, there is a time lag in the appearance of olfactory dysfunction and frontal lobe dysfunction in LBD patients. As with pathological development, olfaction is impaired earliest, followed by striatal, and then frontal lobe dysfunction.