Gastrointestinal function in dementia with Lewy bodies: a comparison with Parkinson disease

Purpose To investigate gastrointestinal function in dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease. Methods We examined gastric emptying and colonic transit time in 19 dementia with Lewy bodies and 46 Parkinson disease patients. Results Gastric emptying was longer in dementia with Lewy bodies than in Parkinson disease ( p = 0.014). Colonic transit time tended to be longer in dementia with Lewy bodies than in Parkinson disease. There was no relationship between gastric emptying and colonic transit time, nor between gastric emptying, colonic transit time and age. Conclusion Gastric emptying was prolonged in dementia with Lewy bodies compared to Parkinson disease.