Lewy bodies
Pronunciation: LOO-ee BOD-eez
Abnormal protein deposits containing alpha-synuclein found in neurons, characteristic of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Full Definition
Lewy bodies are spherical, eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions found in neurons that are composed primarily of alpha-synuclein protein along with other components including ubiquitin and neurofilament proteins. Named after Friedrich Lewy who first described them, these pathological structures are the hallmark of Lewy body diseases including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Parkinson's disease dementia. The distribution and density of Lewy bodies throughout the brain correlates with clinical symptoms and disease severity.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize 'Lewy' as it is an eponym; use plural 'bodies' in most clinical contexts.
In Context
- "Post-mortem examination revealed widespread cortical Lewy bodies consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies." — Neuropathology report
- "The presence of Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra confirmed the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease." — Autopsy findings