Dementia with Lewy bodies and AD are not associated with occipital lobe atrophy on MRI.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is associated with occipital changes in blood flow and metabolism, but structural changes in this region have not previously been assessed. The authors performed volumetric MRI measurement of the occipital lobe blind to the diagnosis in 23 subjects with DLB, 25 with AD, and 24 age-matched control subjects. There were no significant differences between groups in occipital lobe volume. The authors conclude gross structural changes in the occipital lobe do not occur in patients with mild to moderate DLB or AD.