Neuromelanin Imaging in Dementia with Lewy Body (DLB)

Masahiro Ida¹, Shunsuke Sugawara¹, Yuko Kubo¹, Keiko Hino¹, Naoya Yorozu¹, Tomohiro Suzuki¹, Shuzo Ikuta¹, Yuko Kawaguchi¹

The purpose of this study was to compare the alteration of the neuromlanin (NM) signal in the substantia nigra (SN) and locus ceruleus (LC) of dementia with Lewy body (DLB) patients with that of PD and AD patients and normal controls (NC) to elucidate the clinical significance at 3T. NM imaging can detect signal reduction in the SN and LC which indicates alterations in the NM concentration and catecholaminergic neurons. The NM signals of the SN and LC in DLB were lower than normal subjects and AD. NM signal intensity in DLB was decreased to the same degree as PD patients. NM imaging is a helpful tool to distinguish DLB from AD in diagnosing patients with dementia.