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Implication of dopamine transporter and electroencephalography biomarkers in dementia with lewy bodies
Kyoungwon Baik, Seun Jeon, Sung Woo Kang, Yeo Ju Kim, Kyung Min Kim, Kyoung Heo, Mijin Yun, Byoung Seok Ye. Scientific Reports, 2025-10-21
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging and electroencephalography (EEG) are recommended biomarkers for diagnosing dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). However, their interrelationship and independent associations with clinical symptoms remain unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 120 patients with DLB who underwent neuropsychological tests, DAT positron emission tomography, and quantitative EEG analysis. In the first step, partial correlation and univariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to screen for EEG or DAT biomarkers significantly associated with clinical characteristics. In the second step, multivariable regression models were constructed using combinations of the selected EEG and/or DAT variables to identify the best-fitting models. All models were adjusted for age, sex, and education. Lower DAT uptake in the ventral striatum was associated with higher theta power, lower beta power, and higher theta-to-beta ratio (TBR). EEG and DAT imaging biomarkers independently explained clinical symptoms: Fluctuations were best explained by increased temporal theta power and decreased putaminal DAT uptake. While visual hallucinations and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder were primarily linked to decreased DAT uptake in the putamen. Cognitive dysfunctions were mainly associated with EEG biomarkers-including lower central-parietal beta power, higher parietal theta power, and higher temporal-parietal TBR-while lower caudate DAT uptake provided additional explanatory value for semantic fluency dysfunction. EEG and DAT biomarkers offer independent and, in some cases complementary information about the clinical features in DLB. These findings support their potential use as multimodal biomarkers for disease monitoring.
Key findings
- In the first step, partial correlation and univariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to screen for EEG or DAT biomarkers significantly associated with clinical characteristics.
- Lower DAT uptake in the ventral striatum was associated with higher theta power, lower beta power, and higher theta-to-beta ratio (TBR).
- Cognitive dysfunctions were mainly associated with EEG biomarkers-including lower central-parietal beta power, higher parietal theta power, and higher temporal-parietal TBR-while lower caudate DAT uptake provided additional explanatory value for semantic fluency dysfunction.
- These findings support their potential use as multimodal biomarkers for disease monitoring.
Why it matters
This retrospective analysis of 120 patients found that dopamine transporter imaging and EEG biomarkers independently explained clinical symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies. These findings relate to diagnosis and understanding of symptoms, not to treating, curing or preventing the disease.
Study details
- Participants120
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 120 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Byoung Seok Ye: h-index 38 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Yonsei University: institution h-index 777 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41120550) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-20587-5
- PubMed: 41120550
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Baik, K., Jeon, S., Kang, S. W., Kim, Y. J., Kim, K. M., Heo, K., et al. (2025). Implication of dopamine transporter and electroencephalography biomarkers in dementia with lewy bodies. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-20587-5
Vancouver
Baik K, Jeon S, Kang SW, Kim YJ, Kim KM, Heo K, et al. Implication of dopamine transporter and electroencephalography biomarkers in dementia with lewy bodies. Scientific Reports. 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-20587-5. PMID: 41120550.
BibTeX
@article{baik2025-41120550,
author = {Baik, Kyoungwon and Jeon, Seun and Kang, Sung Woo and Kim, Yeo Ju and Kim, Kyung Min and Heo, Kyoung and Yun, Mijin and Ye, Byoung Seok},
title = {{Implication of dopamine transporter and electroencephalography biomarkers in dementia with lewy bodies}},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-20587-5},
pmid = {41120550},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-20587-5}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.