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Longitudinal testing of visual perception in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Wood Joshua S.,
Watson Rosie,
Firbank Michael J.,
Mosimann Urs P.,
Barber Robert,
Blamire Andrew M.,
O'Brien John T.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.3860
Subject(s) - dementia with lewy bodies , perception , dementia , audiology , psychology , visual hallucination , alzheimer's disease , visual perception , cognition , disease , medicine , clinical psychology , psychiatry , neuroscience
Objectives Visuo‐perceptual abnormalities are a prominent feature in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and also occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD) to a lesser extent. We studied the progression of visuo‐perceptual abnormalities over a 12‐month period in DLB and AD by using a novel computerised test battery. Methods Following our previous work using the Newcastle Visual Perception (NEVIP) battery, we re‐assessed 16 AD, 12 DLB and 28 similar‐aged comparison participants 12 months after initial baseline assessment. Results DLB visual perception at follow‐up showed worse performance than AD ( U = 43, p = 0.027); however, there were no significant changes in visuo‐perceptual scores between baseline assessment and 12‐month assessment within groups. A poor baseline score on the NEVIP predicted subsequent deterioration on the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale ( r s = −0.725, p = 0.014) in DLB participants but not in the AD group. Conclusions The NEVIP is a reliable test of visuo‐perception, relatively independent of cognitive decline, with predictive value in identifying DLB participants at risk of functional decline. Visuo‐perceptual dysfunction is a core feature of the disorder for some DLB patients and was stable over the 12‐month period examined here. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.