In collaboration with approximately 10 centers that specialize in DLB and dementia we will recruit a total of 80 individuals for the study: 40 subjects with suspected MCI-DLB and 40 with suspected MCI-AD will be recruited. All subjects will be enrolled into a 12 month longitudinal study where skin biopsies will be performed at 3 sites on each patients at 12 month intervals (baseline and 1 year). Detailed quantified examination, cognitive evaluation, history, and questionnaires will be performed at each visit and will be reviewed by a central panel of disease experts to confirm the diagnosis.~Subjects enrolled in the study will have baseline evaluations and follow up visits at 12 months to define any changes to clinical diagnosis. Skin biopsies will be repeated at the 12 month follow up visit to determine the rate of P-SYN accumulation over time and rates of nerve fiber degeneration within punch skin biopsies.
The Syn-D Study will be evaluating α-synuclein in patients with suspected MCI-AD and MCI-DLB. Using a simple diagnostic test will improve clinical accuracy in diagnosing, earlier diagnosis, and distinguish between neurodegenerative diseases.