Beta-amyloid deposition in the temporal lobe of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies: Comparison with non-demented cases and Alzheimer's disease

beta-Amyloid (A beta) deposition in regions of the temporal lobe in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) was compared with elderly, non-demented (ND) cases and with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The distribution, density and clustering patterns of diffuse, primitive and classic A beta deposits were similar in 'pure' DLB and ND cases. The distribution of A beta deposits and the densities of the diffuse and primitive deposits were similar in 'mixed' DLB/AD cases compared with AD. However, the density of the classic deposits was significantly lower in DLB/AD compared with AD. In addition, the primitive A beta deposits occurred more often in small, regularly spaced clusters in the tissue and less often in a single large cluster in DLB/AD compared with 'pure' AD. These results suggest that pure DLB and AD are distinct disorders which can coexist in some patients. However, the A beta pathology of DLB/AD cases is not identical to that observed in patients with AD alone. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.