Dementia with Lewy bodies in an elderly Greek male due to alpha-synuclein gene mutation

J Clin Neurosci. 2006 Nov;13(9):942-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2005.11.040. Epub 2006 Oct 16.

Abstract

We report the case of an elderly man of Greek background who presented with progressive cognitive decline and motor parkinsonism on a background of a strong family history of Parkinson's disease. Associated symptoms included visual hallucinations, excessive daytime drowsiness, recurrent falls, orthostatic hypotension and urinary incontinence. His major clinical symptoms and signs fulfilled consensus criteria for a clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. An alpha-synuclein gene mutation analysis for the G209A substitution was positive. We conclude that the alpha-synuclein (G209A) gene mutation genotype should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies, particularly in patients with European ancestry and a family history of Parkinson's disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls
  • Aged
  • Cognition Disorders / genetics
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Greece / ethnology
  • Hallucinations / genetics
  • Hallucinations / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / genetics
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / physiopathology
  • Lewy Body Disease / ethnology*
  • Lewy Body Disease / genetics*
  • Lewy Body Disease / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / genetics
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections
  • Urinary Incontinence / genetics
  • Urinary Incontinence / physiopathology
  • alpha-Synuclein / genetics*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • alpha-Synuclein