Identification of Dementia With Lewy Bodies by Skin Biopsy in Recent‐Onset Cognitive Impairment

Immunofluorescence for phosphorylated alpha‐synuclein in skin biopsy samples is an emerging biomarker in synucleinopathies comprising Dementia with Lewy bodies. In this pilot study, 19 patients with recent‐onset (≤ 18 months) cognitive impairment underwent skin biopsy at baseline, with follow‐up clinical re‐evaluation. Five patients fulfilled the Dementia with Lewy bodies diagnosis, all of them positive for skin phosphorylated alpha‐synuclein. The remaining 14 patients were all negative. Skin tissue immunofluorescence may represent a promising technique in identifying synuclein pathology in recent‐onset cognitive decline: larger cohorts are needed to confirm our preliminary data.