Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Better care and treatment for patients with dementia

For decades, our researchers have been at the forefront of understanding, diagnosing, and treating Dementia with Lewy bodies. Their discoveries have improved diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people with the condition and their families.

What is dementia with Lewy bodies?

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is one of the most common types of dementia.

It is a brain condition that most often develops in later life and affects thinking, movement, sleep, mood and behaviour. People may experience problems with memory and attention, vivid visual hallucinations, fluctuations in alertness, stiffness or slowness of movement, and disturbed sleep.

There is currently no cure for DLB, but a range of effective treatments and supportive interventions can help manage symptoms, maintain independence and improve quality of life for people living with the condition and those who care for them.

Symptoms of Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)

Professor John-Paul Taylor talks through a DLB brain scan

Over three decades of impact

Over the last 30 years, our researchers have transformed understanding of DLB. Their work has reshaped clinical practice around the world and improved outcomes for patients and their families.

DBL was once often missed or mistaken for other conditions. Today it’s recognised as a distinct form of dementia with targeted treatments. This progress comes from long-term, collaborative research.

A key part of this work is the close partnership between patients, clinicians and scientists.

The Newcastle University Brain Tissue Resource, one of the UK’s largest brain donation programmes with over 2,200 donors, allowed researchers to link brain changes to symptoms. This evidence has shaped international guidelines, which improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce patient uncertainty, and enable earlier, more appropriate care.

By linking biological changes to symptoms and disease progression, our researchers made it possible to identify DLB earlier, sometimes before dementia symptoms appear. This helps patients and families plan and access personalised support sooner. A major breakthrough was establishing dopamine-transporter (DAT) brain imaging as the gold-standard test for DLB.

Our research also led to treatments that improve quality of life.

We discovered severe loss of acetylcholine in people with DLB, leading to the first successful clinical trials of targeted therapies. These treatments, now used worldwide, improve cognition and reduce distressing hallucinations. Our team’s also showed the dangers of certain antipsychotic drugs in DLB, prompting safer prescribing practices.

The power of collaboration

This progress is supported by robust collaboration with the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre and the Newcastle Health Research Partnership, along with national and international funders and industry partners.

Today, multidisciplinary teams continue to lead the field. They are exploring disease mechanisms, developing stem-cell models, and advancing blood-based tests and personalised therapies. These studies could help with even earlier detection and more effective management.

Our collaborative approach has helped move DLB from an overlooked condition to one with clear diagnostic pathways and improving treatment options. This sets new international standards for dementia care. These achievements reflect our commitment to delivering real benefits for people living with DLB and their families.

From transforming understanding of DLB to shaping international standards of care, our research shows how sustained excellence can deliver lasting impact for patients, families and healthcare systems everywhere.

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