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Castelnovo V, Canu E, Aiello EN, Curti B, Sibilla E, Torre S, Freri F, Tripodi C, Lumaca L, Spinelli EG, Schito P, Russo T, Falzone Y, Verde F, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Sturm VE, Rankin KP, Gorno-Tempini ML, Poletti B, Filippi M, Agosta F. How to detect affect recognition alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2024:10.1007/s00415-024-12686-6. [PMID: 39287680 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12686-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To define the clinical usability of an affect recognition (AR) battery-the Comprehensive Affect Testing System (CATS)-in an Italian sample of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS 96 ALS patients and 116 healthy controls underwent a neuropsychological assessment including the AR subtests of the abbreviated version of the CATS (CATS-A). CATS-A AR subtests and their global score (CATS-A AR Quotient, ARQ) were assessed for their factorial, convergent, and divergent validity. The diagnostic accuracy of each CATS-A AR measure in discriminating ALS patients with cognitive impairment from cognitively normal controls and patients was tested via receiver-operating characteristics analyses. Optimal cut-offs were identified for CATS-A AR measures yielding an acceptable AUC value (≥ .70). The ability of CATS-A ARQ to discriminate between different ALS cognitive phenotypes was also tested. Gray-matter (GM) volumes of controls, ALS with normal (ALS-nARQ), and impaired ARQ score (ALS-iARQ) were compared using ANCOVA models. RESULTS CATS-A AR subtests and ARQ proved to have moderate-to-strong convergent and divergent validity. Almost all considered CATS-A measures reached acceptable accuracy and diagnostic power (AUC range = .79-.83). ARQ showed to be the best diagnostic measure (sensitivity = .80; specificity = .75) and discriminated between different ALS cognitive phenotypes. Compared to ALS-nARQ, ALS-iARQ patients showed reduced GM volumes in the right anterior cingulate, right middle frontal, left inferior temporal, and superior occipital regions. CONCLUSIONS The AR subtests of the CATS-A, and in particular the CATS-A ARQ, are sound measures of AR in ALS. AR deficits may be a valid marker of frontotemporal involvement in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Castelnovo
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Canu
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Curti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Sibilla
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabiola Freri
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Tripodi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Lumaca
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Gioele Spinelli
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Paride Schito
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri Falzone
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Virginia E Sturm
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katherine P Rankin
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
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2
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Abrahams S. Neuropsychological impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal spectrum disorder. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:655-667. [PMID: 37828358 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00878-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a rapid course, characterized by motor neuron dysfunction, leading to progressive disability and death. This Review, which is aimed at neurologists, psychologists and other health professionals who follow evidence-based practice relating to ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), examines the neuropsychological evidence that has driven the reconceptualization of ALS as a spectrum disorder ranging from a pure motor phenotype to ALS-FTD. It focuses on changes in cognition and behaviour, which vary in severity across the spectrum: around 50% individuals with ALS are within the normal range, 15% meet the criteria for ALS-FTD, and the remaining 35% are in the mid-spectrum range with milder and more focal impairments. The cognitive impairments include deficits in verbal fluency, executive functions, social cognition and language, and apathy is the most prevalent behavioural change. The pattern and severity of cognitive and behavioural change predicts underlying regional cerebral dysfunction from brain imaging and post-mortem pathology. Our increased recognition of cognition and behaviour as part of the ALS phenotype has led to the development and standardization of assessment tools, which have been incorporated into research and clinical care. Measuring change over the course of the disease is vital for clinical trials, and neuropsychology is proving to be a biomarker for the earliest preclinical changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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3
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Gulino R. Synaptic Dysfunction and Plasticity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054613. [PMID: 36902042 PMCID: PMC10003601 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has supported the hypothesis that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multi-step disease, as the onset of symptoms occurs after sequential exposure to a defined number of risk factors. Despite the lack of precise identification of these disease determinants, it is known that genetic mutations may contribute to one or more of the steps leading to ALS onset, the remaining being linked to environmental factors and lifestyle. It also appears evident that compensatory plastic changes taking place at all levels of the nervous system during ALS etiopathogenesis may likely counteract the functional effects of neurodegeneration and affect the timing of disease onset and progression. Functional and structural events of synaptic plasticity probably represent the main mechanisms underlying this adaptive capability, causing a significant, although partial and transient, resiliency of the nervous system affected by a neurodegenerative disease. On the other hand, the failure of synaptic functions and plasticity may be part of the pathological process. The aim of this review was to summarize what it is known today about the controversial involvement of synapses in ALS etiopathogenesis, and an analysis of the literature, although not exhaustive, confirmed that synaptic dysfunction is an early pathogenetic process in ALS. Moreover, it appears that adequate modulation of structural and functional synaptic plasticity may likely support function sparing and delay disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Gulino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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4
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Functional alterations in large-scale resting-state networks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A multi-site study across Canada and the United States. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269154. [PMID: 35709100 PMCID: PMC9202847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons, and frontotemporal regions resulting in impaired bulbar, limb, and cognitive function. Magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported cortical and subcortical brain involvement in the pathophysiology of ALS. The present study investigates the functional integrity of resting-state networks (RSNs) and their importance in ALS. Intra- and inter-network resting-state functional connectivity (Rs-FC) was examined using an independent component analysis approach in a large multi-center cohort. A total of 235 subjects (120 ALS patients; 115 healthy controls (HC) were recruited across North America through the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC). Intra-network and inter-network Rs-FC was evaluated by the FSL-MELODIC and FSLNets software packages. As compared to HC, ALS patients displayed higher intra-network Rs-FC in the sensorimotor, default mode, right and left fronto-parietal, and orbitofrontal RSNs, and in previously undescribed networks including auditory, dorsal attention, basal ganglia, medial temporal, ventral streams, and cerebellum which negatively correlated with disease severity. Furthermore, ALS patients displayed higher inter-network Rs-FC between the orbitofrontal and basal ganglia RSNs which negatively correlated with cognitive impairment. In summary, in ALS there is an increase in intra- and inter-network functional connectivity of RSNs underpinning both motor and cognitive impairment. Moreover, the large multi-center CALSNIC dataset permitted the exploration of RSNs in unprecedented detail, revealing previously undescribed network involvement in ALS.
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Magno MA, Canu E, Filippi M, Agosta F. Social cognition in the FTLD spectrum: evidence from MRI. J Neurol 2021; 269:2245-2258. [PMID: 34797434 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10892-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Over the past few years, there has been great interest in social cognition, a wide term referring to the human ability of understanding others' emotions, thoughts, and intentions, to empathize with them and to behave accordingly. While there is no agreement on the classification of social cognitive processes, they can broadly be categorized as consisting of theory of mind, empathy, social perception, and social behavior. The study of social cognition and its relative deficits is increasingly assuming clinical relevance. However, the clinical and neuroanatomical correlates of social cognitive alterations in neurodegenerative conditions, such as those belonging to the frontotemporal lobar (FTLD) spectrum, are not fully established. In this review, we describe the current understanding of social cognition impairments in different FTLD conditions with respect to MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonietta Magno
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Canu
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy. .,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. .,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
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McKenna MC, Corcia P, Couratier P, Siah WF, Pradat PF, Bede P. Frontotemporal Pathology in Motor Neuron Disease Phenotypes: Insights From Neuroimaging. Front Neurol 2021; 12:723450. [PMID: 34484106 PMCID: PMC8415268 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.723450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal involvement has been extensively investigated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but remains relatively poorly characterized in other motor neuron disease (MND) phenotypes such as primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), post poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS), and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). This review focuses on insights from structural, metabolic, and functional neuroimaging studies that have advanced our understanding of extra-motor disease burden in these phenotypes. The imaging literature is limited in the majority of these conditions and frontotemporal involvement has been primarily evaluated by neuropsychology and post mortem studies. Existing imaging studies reveal that frontotemporal degeneration can be readily detected in ALS and PLS, varying degree of frontotemporal pathology may be captured in PMA, SBMA, and HSP, SMA exhibits cerebral involvement without regional predilection, and there is limited evidence for cerebral changes in PPS. Our review confirms the heterogeneity extra-motor pathology across the spectrum of MNDs and highlights the role of neuroimaging in characterizing anatomical patterns of disease burden in vivo. Despite the contribution of neuroimaging to MND research, sample size limitations, inclusion bias, attrition rates in longitudinal studies, and methodological constraints need to be carefully considered. Frontotemporal involvement is a quintessential clinical facet of MND which has important implications for screening practices, individualized management strategies, participation in clinical trials, caregiver burden, and resource allocation. The academic relevance of imaging frontotemporal pathology in MND spans from the identification of genetic variants, through the ascertainment of presymptomatic changes to the design of future epidemiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Clare McKenna
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Philippe Corcia
- Department of Neurology-Neurophysiology, CRMR ALS, Tours, France.,UMR 1253 iBrain, University of Tours, Tours, France.,LITORALS, Federation of ALS Centres: Tours-Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Philippe Couratier
- LITORALS, Federation of ALS Centres: Tours-Limoges, Limoges, France.,ALS Centre, Limoges University Hospital (CHU de Limoges), Limoges, France
| | - We Fong Siah
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
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7
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Neuroanatomical associations of the Edinburgh cognitive and Behavioural ALS screen (ECAS). Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:1641-1654. [PMID: 33155172 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00359-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is now recognized in a subset of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The objective of the study was to identify group differences and neuroanatomical correlates of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) in participants ALS. Fifty-three ALS patients and 43 healthy controls recruited as a part of our multicentre study (CALSNIC) were administered the ECAS and underwent an MRI scan. Voxel-based morphometry and tract based spatial statistics (TBSS) was performed to identify structural changes and associations with impaired ECAS scores. Lower performance in the ECAS verbal fluency and executive domains were noted in ALS patients as compared to controls (p < 0.01). Extensive white matter degeneration was noted in the corticospinal tract in all ALS patients, while ALS patients with impaired verbal fluency or executive domains (ALS-exi, n = 22), displayed additional degeneration in the corpus callosum, cingulum and superior longitudinal fasciculus as compared to controls (p < 0.05, TFCE corrected). Mild grey matter changes and associations with ECAS verbal fluency or executive performance were noted at lenient statistical thresholds (p < 0.001, uncorrected). Executive impairment was detected using the ECAS in our multicentre sample of Canadian ALS patients. White matter degeneration in motor regions was revealed in ALS patients with extensive spread to frontal regions in the ALS-exi sub-group. Mild associations between ECAS verbal fluency, executive function scores and MRI metrics suggest that reduced performance may be associated with widespread structural integrity.
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8
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Kobeleva X, Machts J, Veit M, Vielhaber S, Petri S, Schoenfeld MA. Brain activity is contingent on neuropsychological function in a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of verbal working memory in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:3051-3060. [PMID: 34081813 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive degeneration of neurons in motor and non-motor brain regions, affecting multiple cognitive domains such as memory. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was performed to explore working memory function in ALS. METHODS To contribute to the growing research field that employs structural and functional neuroimaging to investigate the effect of ALS on different working memory components, the localization and intensity of alterations in neural activity was explored using fMRI. Being the first study to specifically address verbal working memory via fMRI in the context of ALS, the verbal n-back task with 0-back and 2-back conditions was employed. RESULTS Despite ALS patients showing unimpaired accuracies (p = 0.724) and reaction times (p = 0.0785), there was significantly increased brain activity of frontotemporal and parietal regions in the 2-back minus 0-back contrast in patients compared to controls (using nonparametric statistics with 5000 permutations and a T threshold of 2.5). DISCUSSION Increased brain activity of the frontotemporal and parietal regions during working memory performance was largely associated with better neuropsychological function within the ALS group, suggesting a compensatory effect during working memory execution. This study therefore adds to the current knowledge on neural correlates of working memory in ALS and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of hyperactivity during cognitive processes in fMRI studies of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Kobeleva
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Judith Machts
- Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Maria Veit
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Vielhaber
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mircea Ariel Schoenfeld
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Kliniken Schmieder, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of behavioral neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
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9
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Osmanovic A, Wieselmann G, Mix L, Siegler HA, Kumpe M, Ranxha G, Wurster CD, Steinke A, Ludolph AC, Kopp B, Lulé D, Petri S, Schreiber-Katz O. Cognitive Performance of Patients with Adult 5q-Spinal Muscular Atrophy and with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Brain Sci 2020; 11:brainsci11010008. [PMID: 33374658 PMCID: PMC7822456 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), share several clinical similarities while differing substantially in etiology, disease onset and progression. Cognitive dysfunction, a clinically relevant non-motor feature in a substantial proportion of ALS patients, has been less frequently investigated in SMA. In this prospective multicenter cross-sectional study, cognitive function was assessed by the Edinburgh Cognitive (and Behavioural) ALS Screen (ECAS) and a German vocabulary test (Wortschatztest, WST) in 34 adult patients with SMA types 2-4 and in 34 patients with ALS. Demographic and clinical parameters were assessed to identify factors that potentially influence cognitive function. While SMA and ALS patients were comparable in the vocabulary test, on average, SMA patients performed better than ALS patients in the cognitive domains of memory, language and executive function. Better cognitive abilities in SMA patients seemed to be related to the early onset, rather than the extent or the duration, of their physical handicap. Future studies should focus on disease-specific cognitive functions in SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma Osmanovic
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Gary Wieselmann
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Lucas Mix
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (L.M.); (A.C.L.); (D.L.)
| | - Hannah Alexandra Siegler
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Mareike Kumpe
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Gresa Ranxha
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | | | - Alexander Steinke
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Albert C. Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (L.M.); (A.C.L.); (D.L.)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Bruno Kopp
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Dorothée Lulé
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (L.M.); (A.C.L.); (D.L.)
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Olivia Schreiber-Katz
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.O.); (G.W.); (H.A.S.); (M.K.); (G.R.); (A.S.); (B.K.); (S.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-532-2392; Fax: +49-511-532-3115
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10
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Gosselt IK, Nijboer TCW, Van Es MA. An overview of screening instruments for cognition and behavior in patients with ALS: selecting the appropriate tool for clinical practice. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020; 21:324-336. [PMID: 32157912 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1732424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) not only show motor deficits, but may also have cognitive and/or behavioral impairments. Recognizing these impairments is crucial as they are associated with lower quality of life, shorter survival, and increased caregiver burden. Therefore, ALS-specific neuropsychological screening instruments have been developed that can account for motor and speech difficulties. This study provides an overview and comparison of these screeners. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using Medline and Embase. Articles describing cognitive/behavioral screening instruments assessed in ALS patients were included. Screening instruments were compared on multiple factors, such as domains, adaptability, required time, and validation. Results: We included 99 articles, reporting on nine cognitive screeners (i.e. ACE-R, ALS-BCA, ALS-CBS, ECAS, FAB, MMSE, MoCA, PSSFTS, and UCSF-SB), of which five ALS-specific. Furthermore, eight behavioral screeners (i.e. ALS-FTD-Q, AES, BBI, DAS, FBI, FrSBe, MiND-B, and NPI) were reported on, of which three ALS-specific. Conclusion: Considering the broad range of cognitive domains, adaptability, and satisfying validity, the ALS-CBS and ECAS appear to be the most suitable screeners to detect cognitive and behavioral changes in ALS. The BBI appears to be the best option to screen for behavioral changes in ALS, since all relevant domains are assessed, motor-related problems are considered, and has a satisfactory validity. The MiND-B and ALS-FTD-Q are promising as well. In general, all screening instruments would benefit from additional validation research to gain greater insights into test characteristics and to aid clinicians in selecting screening tools for use in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel K Gosselt
- Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Tanja C W Nijboer
- Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michael A Van Es
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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11
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Huynh W, Ahmed R, Mahoney CJ, Nguyen C, Tu S, Caga J, Loh P, Lin CSY, Kiernan MC. The impact of cognitive and behavioral impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Expert Rev Neurother 2020; 20:281-293. [DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2020.1727740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rebekah Ahmed
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Colin J. Mahoney
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Chilan Nguyen
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medicine, The University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sicong Tu
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jashelle Caga
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Patricia Loh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Cindy S-Y Lin
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew C. Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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12
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Christidi F, Karavasilis E, Velonakis G, Rentzos M, Zambelis T, Zouvelou V, Xirou S, Ferentinos P, Efstathopoulos E, Kelekis N, Evdokimidis I, Karandreas N. Motor and extra-motor gray matter integrity may underlie neurophysiologic parameters of motor function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a combined voxel-based morphometry and transcranial stimulation study. Brain Imaging Behav 2019; 12:1730-1741. [PMID: 29417490 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9841-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The association between gray matter (GM) density and neurophysiologic changes is still unclear in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We evaluated the relationship between GM density and motor system integrity combining voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in ALS. We included 17 ALS patients and 22 healthy controls (HC) who underwent 3D-T1-weighted imaging. Among the ALS group, we applied left motor cortex single-pulse TMS. We used whole-brain VBM comparing ALS and HC in GM density. We also conducted regression analysis to examine correlations between GM density and the following TMS parameters: motor evoked potential (MEP)/M ratio and central motor conduction time (CMCT). We found significantly decreased GM density in ALS patients in several frontal, temporal, parietal/occipital and cerebellar regions (p < 0.001 uncorrected; cluster-extent threshold k = 100 voxels per cluster). With regards to TMS parameters, ALS patients showed mostly increased MEP/M ratio and modest prolongation of CMCT. MEP/M ratio was associated with GM density in (a) rolandic operculum/inferior frontal gyrus/precentral gyrus; anterior cingulate gyrus; inferior temporal gyrus; superior parietal lobule; cuneus; superior occipital gyrus and cerebellum (positive association) and (b) paracentral lobule/supplementary motor area (negative association). CMCT was associated with GM density in (a) inferior frontal gyrus and middle cingulated gyrus (positive association) and (b) superior parietal lobule; cuneus and cerebellum (negative association). Our findings support a significant interaction between motor and extra-motor structural and functional changes and highlight that motor and extra-motor GM integrity may underlie TMS parameters of motor function in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Christidi
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11528, Greece.
| | - Efstratios Karavasilis
- Radiology and Medical Imaging Research Unit, Second Department of Radiology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Velonakis
- Radiology and Medical Imaging Research Unit, Second Department of Radiology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Michail Rentzos
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11528, Greece
| | - Thomas Zambelis
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11528, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Zouvelou
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11528, Greece
| | - Sophia Xirou
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11528, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Ferentinos
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstathios Efstathopoulos
- Radiology and Medical Imaging Research Unit, Second Department of Radiology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kelekis
- Radiology and Medical Imaging Research Unit, Second Department of Radiology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Evdokimidis
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11528, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Karandreas
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11528, Greece
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13
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Strikwerda-Brown C, Ramanan S, Irish M. Neurocognitive mechanisms of theory of mind impairment in neurodegeneration: a transdiagnostic approach. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2019; 15:557-573. [PMID: 30863078 PMCID: PMC6388953 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s158996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Much of human interaction is predicated upon our innate capacity to infer the thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and perspectives of others, in short, to possess a "theory of mind" (ToM). While the term has evolved considerably since its inception, ToM encompasses our unique ability to apprehend the mental states of others, enabling us to anticipate and predict subsequent behavior. From a developmental perspective, ToM has been a topic of keen research interest, with numerous studies seeking to explicate the origins of this fundamental capacity and its disruption in developmental disorders such as autism. The study of ToM at the opposite end of the lifespan, however, is paradoxically new born, emerging as a topic of interest in its own right comparatively recently. Here, we consider the unique insights afforded by studying ToM capacity in neurodegenerative disorders. Arguing from a novel, transdiagnostic perspective, we consider how ToM vulnerability reflects the progressive degradation of neural circuits specialized for an array of higher-order cognitive processes. This mechanistic approach enables us to consider the common and unique neurocognitive mechanisms that underpin ToM dysfunction across neurodegenerative disorders and for the first time examine its relation to behavioral disturbances across social, intimate, legal, and criminal settings. As such, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of ToM research in neurodegeneration, the resultant challenges for family members, clinicians, and the legal profession, and future directions worthy of exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie Strikwerda-Brown
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
| | - Siddharth Ramanan
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
| | - Muireann Irish
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
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14
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Proudfoot M, Bede P, Turner MR. Imaging Cerebral Activity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2019; 9:1148. [PMID: 30671016 PMCID: PMC6332509 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in neuroimaging, complementing histopathological insights, have established a multi-system involvement of cerebral networks beyond the traditional neuromuscular pathological view of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The development of effective disease-modifying therapy remains a priority and this will be facilitated by improved biomarkers of motor system integrity against which to assess the efficacy of candidate drugs. Functional MRI (FMRI) is an established measure of both cerebral activity and connectivity, but there is an increasing recognition of neuronal oscillations in facilitating long-distance communication across the cortical surface. Such dynamic synchronization vastly expands the connectivity foundations defined by traditional neuronal architecture. This review considers the unique pathogenic insights afforded by the capture of cerebral disease activity in ALS using FMRI and encephalography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Proudfoot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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15
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Masuda M, Watanabe H, Tanaka Y, Ohdake R, Ogura A, Yokoi T, Imai K, Kawabata K, Riku Y, Hara K, Nakamura R, Atsuta N, Katsuno M, Sobue G. Age-related impairment in Addenbrooke's cognitive examination revised scores in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 19:578-584. [PMID: 30379106 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1510009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Older age is thought to be a risk factor for cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, very few clinical studies have investigated this relationship using sufficient numbers of healthy controls that correspond to each generation. The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related changes of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) score in ALS patients by comparing healthy controls of various ages. METHODS 131 ALS patients (86 males, 45 females; mean age: 64.8 ± 10.2; mean education: 12.5 ± 2.7) and 151 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls were enrolled. We applied ACE-R, which could evaluate not only global cognition but five cognitive subdomains that included orientation/attention, memory, verbal fluency, language, and visuospatial ability. RESULTS ALS patients had significantly lower total and subdomain scores of ACE-R than healthy controls. Multiple regression analysis suggested that age at examination and age at onset had significant influence on ACE-R scores. When we divided ALS patients and healthy controls into 4 groups according to age at examination for ALS, total and each subdomain scores were significantly lower with age, particularly in the older-middle and the oldest group (66.31 years or more) of ALS compared with healthy controls. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing analysis supported that these reductions of ACE-R total and subdomain scores in ALS patients were more accelerated by approximately 60 years as compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION ALS patients showed accelerated age-related ACE-R score reduction beyond normal ageing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihito Masuda
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Hirohisa Watanabe
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan.,b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tanaka
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan.,b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Reiko Ohdake
- b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Aya Ogura
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Takamasa Yokoi
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Kazunori Imai
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Kazuya Kawabata
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Yuichi Riku
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hara
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nakamura
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Naoki Atsuta
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
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16
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Poletti B, Carelli L, Faini A, Solca F, Meriggi P, Lafronza A, Ciringione L, Pedroli E, Ticozzi N, Ciammola A, Cipresso P, Riva G, Silani V. The Arrows and Colors Cognitive Test (ACCT): A new verbal-motor free cognitive measure for executive functions in ALS. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200953. [PMID: 30091987 PMCID: PMC6084851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objective The presence of executive deficits in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is well established, even if standardized measures are difficult to obtain due to progressive physical disability of the patients. We present clinical data concerning a newly developed measure of cognitive flexibility, administered by means of Eye-Tracking (ET) technology in order to bypass verbal-motor limitations. Methods 21 ALS patients and 21 age-and education-matched healthy subjects participated in an ET-based cognitive assessment, including a newly developed test of cognitive flexibility (Arrows and Colors Cognitive Test–ACCT) and other oculomotor-driven measures of cognitive functions. A standard screening of frontal and working memory abilities and global cognitive efficiency was administered to all subjects, in addition to a psychological self-rated assessment. For ALS patients, a clinical examination was also performed. Results ACCT successfully discriminated between patients and healthy controls, mainly concerning execution times obtained at different subtests. A qualitative analysis performed on error distributions in patients highlighted a lower prevalence of perseverative errors, with respect to other type of errors. Correlations between ACCT and other ET-based frontal-executive measures were significant and involved different frontal sub-domains. Limited correlations were observed between ACCT and standard ‘paper and pencil’ cognitive tests. Conclusions The newly developed ET-based measure of cognitive flexibility could be a useful tool to detect slight frontal impairments in non-demented ALS patients by bypassing verbal-motor limitations through the oculomotor-driven administration. The findings reported in the present study represent the first contribution towards the development of a full verbal-motor free executive test for ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience—IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Laura Carelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience—IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Faini
- Department of Cardiovascular, Neural and Metabolic Sciences—IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Meriggi
- ICT & Biomedical Technology Integration Unit, Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITT), Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalisa Lafronza
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience—IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciana Ciringione
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Elisa Pedroli
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience—IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciammola
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience—IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Cipresso
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience—IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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17
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Social Cognition Dysfunctions in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Neuroanatomical Correlates and Clinical Implications. Behav Neurol 2018; 2018:1849794. [PMID: 29854017 PMCID: PMC5944290 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1849794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social cognitive function, involved in the perception, processing, and interpretation of social information, has been shown to be crucial for successful communication and interpersonal relationships, thereby significantly impacting mental health, well-being, and quality of life. In this regard, assessment of social cognition, mainly focusing on four key domains, such as theory of mind (ToM), emotional empathy, and social perception and behavior, has been increasingly evaluated in clinical settings, given the potential implications of impairments of these skills for therapeutic decision-making. With regard to neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), most disorders, characterized by variable disease phenotypes and progression, although similar for the unfavorable prognosis, are associated to impairments of social cognitive function, with consequent negative effects on patients' management. Specifically, in some NDs these deficits may represent core diagnostic criteria, such as for behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), or may emerge during the disease course as critical aspects, such as for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. On this background, we aimed to revise the most updated evidence on the neurobiological hypotheses derived from network-based approaches, clinical manifestations, and assessment tools of social cognitive dysfunctions in NDs, also prospecting potential benefits on patients' well-being, quality of life, and outcome derived from potential therapeutic perspectives of these deficits.
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