What is a Lewy Body?
View Lewy Body Neuropathology The Lewy body (LB) was first described by Dr. Freidrich Lewy in 1912 in the brain of a patient with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Since that time, LBs have been described in virtually all PD cases in the large neurons (brain cells) that produce the neurochemical dopamine located in a part of the brainstem called the substantia nigra. In addition to the substantia nigra neurons, LBs may be found in other populations of neurons that degenerate in PD in the cerebral cortex and brainstem. LBs are filamentous inclusions within neurons. They are composed of a protein known as alpha-synuclein. The normal function of alpha-synuclein is unknown at the present time. Other proteins have been described in LBs but are not thought to be the major building blocks. LBs in the substantia nigra typically have a characteristic spherical appearance with a loose radiating array of filaments in the periphery or “corona” surrounding a matted meshwork of filaments in the center or “c
