The Genetics of Dementia with Lewy Bodies: Current Understanding and Future Directions

AbstractPurpose of ReviewDementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a neurodegenerative disease that can be clinically and pathologically similar to Parkinson ’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Current understanding of DLB genetics is insufficient and has been limited by sample size and difficulty in diagnosis. The first genome-wide association study (GWAS) in DLB was performed in 2017; a time at which the post-GWAS era has been reached in many diseases.Recent FindingsDLB shares risk loci with AD, in theAPOE E4 allele, and with PD, in variation atGBA andSNCA. Interestingly, the GWAS suggested that DLB may also have genetic risk factors that are distinct from those in AD and PD.SummaryAlthough off to a slow start, recent studies have reinvigorated the field of DLB genetics and these results enable us to start to have a more complete understanding of the genetic architecture of this disease.
Source: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research