Dementia with Lewy bodies clinical syndrome (DLBCS) questionnaire: A simple tool for the clinical screening of DLB.
Dementia with Lewy bodies clinical syndrome (DLBCS) questionnaire: A simple tool for the clinical screening of DLB.
Where did the research take place?
Possible study sites were matched from the text; these need review.
TW · Possible study site · country only
Clinical data were collected from a dementia registry in Taiwan, including patients with AD, VCI, and DLB.Location evidence
Changhua, TW · Author affiliation
Department of Neurology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.Location evidence
Taichung, TW · Author affiliation
Department of Smart Computing and Applied Mathematics, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.Location evidence
Taipei, TW · Author affiliation
Department of Exercise and Health Promotion, College of Kinesiology and Health, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan.Location evidence
Tainan, TW · Author affiliation
Department of Neurology, Tainan Municipal Hospital (Managed by Show Chwan Medical Care Corporation), Tainan, Taiwan.Location evidence
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Original abstract
BackgroundDementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) remains underdiagnosed due to overlapping clinical features with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Early recognition is crucial, as DLB has distinct prognostic and therapeutic implications.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and validate a brief, clinically applicable screening instrument to improve bedside recognition of DLB and to compare its performance with established diagnostic approaches.MethodsWe designed the Dementia with Lewy Bodies Clinical Screening Questionnaire (DLBCSQ) and an extended version (DLBCSQ11) incorporating additional items to differentiate DLB from VCI. Clinical data were collected from a dementia registry in Taiwan, including patients with AD, VCI, and DLB. The diagnostic accuracy of DLBCSQ versions was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses across subgroups, including mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (LB-MCI).ResultsBoth DLBCSQ and DLBCSQ11 demonstrated strong discriminatory ability, with area under the curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.84 for differentiating DLB from non-DLB syndromes. DLBCSQ11 showed greater specificity for distinguishing DLB from VCI, though about 20% of VCI patients still exhibited DLB-like features. Supplementary questions on visual hallucinations and tremors further improved detection of prodromal or mixed DLB cases.ConclusionsThe DLBCSQ9 and DLBCSQ11 represent practical and effective tools for clinical and bedside identification of DLB. By improving early recognition and differentiation from AD and VCI, these instruments may facilitate timely diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, and support future research on mixed dementia syndromes.