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Neuroimaging and plasma biomarker differences and commonalities in Lewy body dementia subtypes
Naomi Hannaway, Angeliki Zarkali, Rohan Bhome, Ivelina Dobreva, George E. C. Thomas, Elena Veleva, Irene Gorostiaga Belio, Katie Tucker et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-05-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
We show reduced fiber cross-section in LBD versus PD, and increased concentrations of plasma neurofilament light chain and p-tau217; with p-tau217 and fiber cross-section associated with cognition. Fiber density was reduced in PDD versus DLB, but neither plasma measures nor fiber cross-section differed between LBD subtypes. Our findings suggest that the presence of dementia in LBD is associated with poorer white matter macrostructure and may relate to pathological protein accumulation. Conversely, differences between DLB and PDD may be driven by other factors. HIGHLIGHTS: Plasma neurofilament light and phosphorylated tau-217 were increased in Lewy body dementia (LBD) relative to Parkinson's disease (PD) and controls. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) white matter macrostructure (fiber cross-section) was reduced in LBD relative to PD. In contrast, MRI white matter microstructure (fiber density) was reduced in PD dementia compared to dementia with Lewy bodies. Differences between dementia with Lewy bodies and PD dementia were distinct compared with those between LBD and Parkinson's with normal cognition. Our findings suggest that dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's dementia differ in underlying processes distinct from those driving dementia.
Key findings
- We show reduced fiber cross-section in LBD versus PD, and increased concentrations of plasma neurofilament light chain and p-tau217; with p-tau217 and fiber cross-section associated with cognition.
- Fiber density was reduced in PDD versus DLB, but neither plasma measures nor fiber cross-section differed between LBD subtypes.
- Our findings suggest that the presence of dementia in LBD is associated with poorer white matter macrostructure and may relate to pathological protein accumulation.
- Conversely, differences between DLB and PDD may be driven by other factors.
- HIGHLIGHTS: Plasma neurofilament light and phosphorylated tau-217 were increased in Lewy body dementia (LBD) relative to Parkinson's disease (PD) and controls.
Why it matters
The presence of dementia in Lewy body disease was associated with poorer white matter macrostructure and may relate to pathological protein accumulation, with plasma neurofilament light and p-tau217 increased relative to Parkinson's disease and controls. Differences between dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia may be driven by other factors distinct from those driving dementia.
Study details
- Participants47
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 1 / 4 | 47 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 13 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Rimona Sharon Weil: h-index 39 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40403153) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hannaway, N., Zarkali, A., Bhome, R., Dobreva, I., Thomas, G. E. C., Veleva, E., et al. (2025). Neuroimaging and plasma biomarker differences and commonalities in Lewy body dementia subtypes. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70274
Vancouver
Hannaway N, Zarkali A, Bhome R, Dobreva I, Thomas GEC, Veleva E, et al. Neuroimaging and plasma biomarker differences and commonalities in Lewy body dementia subtypes. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70274. PMID: 40403153.
BibTeX
@article{hannaway2025-40403153,
author = {Hannaway, Naomi and Zarkali, Angeliki and Bhome, Rohan and Dobreva, Ivelina and Thomas, George E. C. and Veleva, Elena and Belio, Irene Gorostiaga and Tucker, Katie and others},
title = {{Neuroimaging and plasma biomarker differences and commonalities in Lewy body dementia subtypes}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70274},
pmid = {40403153},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70274}
}
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