Correlation in Lewy pathology between the claustrum and visual areas in brains of dementia with Lewy bodies

We investigated Lewy pathologies in the claustrum and the related cerebral cortices and subcortical nuclei of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) brains using alpha-synuclein-immunohistochernistry to clarify the relationship between Lewy pathology in the claustrum and visual misidentification of DLB patients. The, claustrum is known to have strong reciprocal connections with the visual areas. Consequently, the claustrum demonstrated many Lewy bodies (LB) and LB-related neurites. The insular and inferior temporal cortices, amygdala, BA 18, 19, transentohrinal and cingulate cortices showed stronger or simular Lewy pathology as compared with the claustrum, while BA 17, precentral, postcentral and transverse temporal cortices showed weaker er Lewy pathology. Comparing the correlation coefficient of Lewy pathology between the clausturm and other regions, BA 18 and 19 as well as the insular and transentorhinal cortices demonstrated a higher correlation coefficient. These findings suggest that Lewy pathology in the claustrum is more closely associated with that in visual areas than in auditory, sornatosensory or motor areas, and that dysfunction of the visuo-claustral pathway participates in visual misidentification in addition to the visuo-anlygdaloid pathway. The paralimbic cortices including the insular and transentorhinal cortices may connect visual areas with limbic areas by relay of the visuo-claustral or visuo-amygdaloid pathway. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland, Ltd. All rights reserved.