This review looked at what causes dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). It examined genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as pesticides, air pollution, heavy metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The study population and sample size were not reported. Researchers found moderate heritability, with key risk genes including APOE, GBA, and SNCA. Environmental exposures were associated with alpha-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and disruption of the gut–brain axis.
However, the determinants underlying susceptibility to DLB remain incompletely defined. Much of this information is frequently extrapolated from Parkinson's disease, which means the findings for DLB specifically are not fully established. No safety concerns or adverse events were reported because this was a review of existing data rather than a clinical trial.
Readers should take from this that while genes and environment play a role, the picture is still incomplete. More research is needed to confirm these links specifically for DLB before they can be considered definitive causes.
