Lewy body

Last reviewed 01/2018

A Lewy body is a neuronal inclusion body which is seen:

  • in the substantia nigra in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease
  • throughout the cortex in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies
  • throughout the cortex in a subset who have a primary diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Inclusion bodies are typically aggregated protein, in the case of the Lewy body the major component is alpha-synuclein.