ABSTRACT
In the last 15 years it has become clear that there are several different neurodegenerative conditions which give rise to dementia syndromes and that each has a distinct neurochemical pathology.14,15 This has important implications for treatment and it is clear that a detailed understanding of the neurotransmitter function in each condition can lead to rational drug design and treatment strategies appropriate for that group of patients. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) has clinicopathologic features which overlap with either AD or Parkinson’s disease (PD) as well as features that help to distinguish it, such as fluctuations in cognitive impairment and a higher prevalence of visual hallucinations.16 On this basis, it would be expected that the neurochemistry would have some similarities with both disorders.
