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Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2026

July 12-15, 2026 | London, United Kingdom, and Online

10550

Lewy Body Pathology And Declines In Physical Performance, Functional Independence, And Quality Of Life: The 90+ Study

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Poster Presenter

Katherine Colcord

Authors

Katherine Colcord, Luohua Jiang, Zarui Melikyan, Yohana Kim, Ahmad Sajjadi, Claudia Kawas, María Corrada

Affiliations

University of California, Irvine

Part of Topic

Lewy body pathology and declines in physical performance, functional independence, and quality of life: The 90+ Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of Lewy bodies (LB) at autopsy on three domains important to successful aging: physical performance, functional independence, and quality of life.

METHODS

•Participants: from The 90+ Study, a longitudinal study of aging with evaluations every 6 months.

•Outcomes:

1. Physical performance: Each measure was scored from 0 (unable to perform) to 4 (best performance), the composite from 0 to 16.

• Gait Speed: 4-meter Walk Test (seconds)

• Balance: Short Physical Performance Battery

• Side-by-side stand (0-10 seconds)

•Semi-tandem stand (0-10 seconds)

•Tandem stand (0-10 seconds)

• Five Times Sit to Stand Test (seconds)

•Grip Strength (kg)

•Composite summing 4 measures

2. Functional independence: 12-item Functional Activities composite (ADLs/IADLs)

3. Quality of life: 13-item Quality of Life questionnaire composite

•Predictor: Lewy bodies (none/olfactory bulb vs. brainstem predominant/limbic transitional/neocortical diffuse)

•Statistical analysis:

•Linear mixed effects models adjusted for sex, age at death, and education.

DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS

•LB pathology is associated with significantly faster decline in three non-cognitive domains of successful aging.

•This research enhances our understanding of the clinical trajectory of LB pathology and may help clarify differences in clinical presentation across different neuropathological causes of dementia, improving our ability to distinguish between them during life.

•Our findings also underscore the importance of securing additional support for patients with Lewy body disease, like referrals to physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work.

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