Identification of Dementia With Lewy Bodies by Skin Biopsy in Recent-Onset Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Immunofluorescence for phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in skin biopsy samples is an emerging biomarker in synucleinopathies comprising Dementia with Lewy bodies. In this pilot study, 19 patients with recent-onset (≤ 18 months) cognitive impairment underwent skin biopsy at baseline, with follow-up clinical re-evaluation. Five patients fulfilled the Dementia with Lewy bodies diagnosis, all of them positive for skin phosphorylated alpha-synuclein. The remaining 14 patients were all negative. Skin tissue immunofluorescence may represent a promising technique in identifying synuclein pathology in recent-onset cognitive decline: larger cohorts are needed to confirm our preliminary data.