Short Questionnaire Helps Diagnose Type of Dementia

The survey rates whether a patient has bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, or rest tremor without the need to measure each item.

A leading neuroscientist has developed a three-minute survey that is able to detect Lewy Body disease (LBD), a lesser-known type of dementia that is typically more difficult to diagnose than Alzheimer’s disease. The survey, known as “Lewy Body Composite Risk Score” (LBCRS), is able to discriminate between Alzheimer’s disease and LBD with 96.8% accuracy.

Patients with LBD simultaneously experience losses in cognitive function, mobility, and behavior. The disease can cause visual hallucinations and make depression feel much worse.

The survey features structured yes/no questions for specific symptoms found in patients with LBD, but are much less commonly found in other forms of dementia. The LBCRS rates whether the patient has bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, or rest tremor without having to grade each extremity.

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