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Neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies F097

Document
Last amended 
11 March 2019
Current RMA Instruments
SOP bulletin information for new SOP

SOP Bulletin 207

ICD 10 AM Coding

G31.3

Brief description

Neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies covers dementia with Lewy bodies and also mild neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies.  Dementia with Lewy bodies is now recognised to be the third most common type of dementia, after Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. 

Confirming the diagnosis

The diagnosis is made based on the presence of core clinical features on history and examination, including cognitive testing.  Distinguishing clinical features (in addition to dementia) include fluctuations in cognition and levels of alertness, visual hallucinations, parkinsonism and sleep (movement) disorders.  Neuroimaging may be performed but findings are not diagnostic.  The condition can be difficult to diagnose clinically and to distinguish from Alzheimer disease and from Parkinson disease with dementia.  The diagnosis can also be confirmed pathologically, at autopsy.

The relevant medical specialist is a neurologist or geriatrician.

Additional diagnoses covered by these SOPs

  • Dementia with Lewy bodies
  • Major neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies
  • Mild neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies
Conditions not covered by these SOPs
  • Alzheimer disease*
  • Parkinson disease with Lewy bodies*
  • Vascular dementia*
  • Multi-infarct dementia* (vascular dementia)
  • Frontotemporal dementia#
  • Any other identifiable cause of dementia, ICD code as appropriate

* another SOP applies

# non-SOP condition

Clinical onset

Clinical onset will be when symptoms and findings on clinical examination were first sufficent to allow an appropriate medical practitioner to say the condition was present.  Onset is typically after age 65.

Clinical worsening

As with other degenerative dementias, cognitive decline in dementia with Lewy bodies progresses inexorably in all patients.  There is no treatment available that modifies the course of the condition.