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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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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Ghaderi S, Fatehi F, Kalra S, Batouli SAH. MRI biomarkers for memory-related impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-17. [PMID: 37469125 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2236651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral impairments and motor symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers have been investigated as potential tools for detecting and monitoring memory-related impairment in ALS. Our objective was to examine the importance of identifying MRI biomarkers for memory-related impairment in ALS, motor neuron disease (MND), and ALS frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (ALS-FTD) patients. Methods: PubMed and Scopus databases were searched. Keywords covering magnetic resonance imaging, ALS, MND, and memory impairments were searched. There were a total of 25 studies included in our work here. Results: The structural MRI (sMRI) studies reported gray matter (GM) atrophy in the regions associated with memory processing, such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus (PhG), in ALS patients. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies showed white matter (WM) alterations in the corticospinal tract (CST) and other tracts that are related to motor and extra-motor functions, and these alterations were associated with memory and executive function impairments in ALS. The functional MRI (fMRI) studies also demonstrated an altered activation in the prefrontal cortex, limbic system, and other brain regions involved in memory and emotional processing in ALS patients. Conclusion: MRI biomarkers show promise in uncovering the neural mechanisms of memory-related impairment in ALS. Nonetheless, addressing challenges such as sample sizes, imaging protocols, and longitudinal studies is crucial for future research. Ultimately, MRI biomarkers have the potential to be a tool for detecting and monitoring memory-related impairments in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Ghaderi
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neurology Department, Neuromuscular Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Fatehi
- Neurology Department, Neuromuscular Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Raimo S, Giorgini R, Gaita M, Costanzo A, Spitaleri D, Palermo L, Liuzza MT, Santangelo G. Sensitivity of conventional cognitive tests in multiple sclerosis: Application of item response theory. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 69:104440. [PMID: 36495845 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and its prevalence rate ranges between 22% and 70%. Because CI significantly impacts vocational status, caregiver burden, and quality of life, an accurate neuropsychological assessment is required. Three widely used and validated batteries for MS-associated CI are the Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery (BRN-B), the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function (MACFIMS), and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment (BICAMS). Although similar, these batteries differ in time-consuming and in specific tests employed. This study aims to assess the sensitivity of cognitive tests included in these batteries through an Item Response Theory approach. METHODS Ninety-seven patients with MS and 91 demographically matched controls (HC) were consecutively assessed using the three neuropsychological batteries (i.e., BRN-B, MACFIMS, and BICAMS). Continuous Response Model (CRM) was used to identify the cognitive test(s) that best discriminate patients with MS from HC. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the accuracy of the CRM results. RESULTS Cognitive tests loaded on two different latent variables: the 'higher-order executive functioning,' consisting of tests assessing concept formation, problem-solving, and inhibitory control, and the 'memory and information processing speed,' comprising tests assessing long-term, working memory, and information processing speed. The Delis Kaplan Executive Functioning System-Sorting Test and the Stroop Test were the most sensitive tests in differentiating cognitive functioning between MS and HC. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the importance of including a more extensive executive assessment in MS clinical practice since higher-order executive functions (e.g., abstraction and inhibitory control) significantly impact patients' quality of life and functional autonomy. Clinical implications of careful dissection of executive functioning in MS neuropsychological assessment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Raimo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
| | - Roberto Giorgini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Catanzaro 88100, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Gaita
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Catanzaro 88100, Italy
| | - Antonio Costanzo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Daniele Spitaleri
- Neurology Unit "San Giuseppe Moscati", Hospital Avellino, Avellino, Italy
| | - Liana Palermo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Catanzaro 88100, Italy
| | - Marco Tullio Liuzza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Catanzaro 88100, Italy
| | - Gabriella Santangelo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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McMillan CT, Wuu J, Rascovsky K, Cosentino S, Grossman M, Elman L, Quinn C, Rosario L, Stark JH, Granit V, Briemberg H, Chenji S, Dionne A, Genge A, Johnston W, Korngut L, Shoesmith C, Zinman L, Kalra S, Benatar M. Defining cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an evaluation of empirical approaches. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2022; 23:517-526. [PMID: 35253557 PMCID: PMC9448823 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2022.2039713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multi-system disorder characterized primarily by motor neuron degeneration, but may be accompanied by cognitive dysfunction. Statistically appropriate criteria for establishing cognitive impairment (CI) in ALS are lacking. We evaluate quantile regression (QR), that accounts for age and education, relative to a traditional two standard deviation (SD) cutoff for defining CI. Methods: QR of cross-sectional data from a multi-center North American Control (NAC) cohort of 269 healthy adults was used to model the 5th percentile of cognitive scores on the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS). The QR approach was compared to traditional two SD cutoff approach using the same NAC cohort (2SD-NAC) and to existing UK-based normative data derived using the 2SD approach (2SD-UK) to assess the impact of cohort selection and statistical model in identifying CI in 182 ALS patients. Results: QR-NAC models revealed that age and education impact cognitive performance on the ECAS. Based on QR-NAC normative cutoffs, the frequency of CI in the 182 PENN ALS patients was 15.9% for ALS specific, 12.6% for ALS nonspecific, and 15.4% for ECAS total. This frequency of CI is substantially more conservative in comparison to the 2SD-UK (20.3%-34.6%) and modestly more conservative to the 2SD-NAC (14.3%-16.5%) approaches for estimating CI. Conclusions: The choice of normative cohort has a substantial impact and choice of statistical method a modest impact on defining CI in ALS. This report establishes normative ECAS thresholds to identify whether ALS patients in the North American population have CI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey T. McMillan
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joanne Wuu
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Katya Rascovsky
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie Cosentino
- Columbia University, The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, New York, NY, USA
| | - Murray Grossman
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lauren Elman
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Colin Quinn
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Luis Rosario
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jessica H. Stark
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Volkan Granit
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Hannah Briemberg
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sneha Chenji
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Annie Dionne
- Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Angela Genge
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Wendy Johnston
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Lawrence Korngut
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | | | - Lorne Zinman
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Sanjay Kalra
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Michael Benatar
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Miami, FL, USA
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The Relationship between Selected Demographic Factors and Speech Organ Dysfunction in Sporadic ALS Patients. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 56:medicina56080390. [PMID: 32764342 PMCID: PMC7466202 DOI: 10.3390/medicina56080390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background and objectives: Speech disorders are observed in 30% of newly diagnosed sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Characterized by a dynamic course, dysfunction of articulation has not so far been well understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of demographic factors (sex, age, duration of the disease) and concomitant diseases (degenerative spine disease, depression, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and allergy) on the functioning of speech organs in ALS patients. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 65 patients with sporadic ALS. Patients were examined for articulatory functions by means of the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (FDA). Results: 68% of the study sample had spinal disorders. Logistic regression analysis showed that a decline in the functioning of lips, soft palate, length of phonation, and voice loudness was more common among men. Patients diagnosed with degenerative spine disease more often suffered from respiratory disorders, while younger patients (<60 years of age) significantly more often had the impairment of the sentence and spontaneous speech functions. Conclusions: The male gender in patients with ALS is associated with an increased risk of deterioration of the phonation length function. Patients under 60 years of age are associated with more often pronouncing sentences disorders and spontaneous speech disorders.
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Qiu T, Zhang Y, Tang X, Liu X, Wang Y, Zhou C, Luo C, Zhang J. Precentral degeneration and cerebellar compensation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A multimodal MRI analysis. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:3464-3474. [PMID: 31020731 PMCID: PMC6865414 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and intractable neurodegenerative disease of human motor system characterized by progressive muscular weakness and atrophy. A considerable body of research has demonstrated significant structural and functional abnormalities of the primary motor cortex in patients with ALS. In contrast, much less attention has been paid to the abnormalities of cerebellum in this disease. Using multimodal magnetic resonance imagining data of 60 patients with ALS and 60 healthy controls, we examined changes in gray matter volume (GMV), white matter (WM) fractional anisotropy (FA), and functional connectivity (FC) in patients with ALS. Compared with healthy controls, patients with ALS showed decreased GMV in the left precentral gyrus and increased GMV in bilateral cerebellum, decreased FA in the left corticospinal tract and body of corpus callosum, and decreased FC in multiple brain regions, involving bilateral postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus and cerebellum anterior lobe, among others. Meanwhile, we found significant intermodal correlations among GMV of left precentral gyrus, FA of altered WM tracts, and FC of left precentral gyrus, and that WM microstructural alterations seem to play important roles in mediating the relationship between GMV and FC of the precentral gyrus, as well as the relationship between GMVs of the precentral gyrus and cerebellum. These findings provided evidence for the precentral degeneration and cerebellar compensation in ALS, and the involvement of WM alterations in mediating the relationship between pathologies of the primary motor cortex and cerebellum, which may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Qiu
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Yuanchao Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xie Tang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Yue Wang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Chaoyang Zhou
- Department of RadiologySouthwest Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqingPeople's Republic of China
| | - Chunxia Luo
- Department of NeurologySouthwest Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqingPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jiuquan Zhang
- Department of RadiologyChongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer HospitalChongqingPeople's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University)Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer HospitalChongqingPeople's Republic of China
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Abstract
Cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is heterogeneous but now recognized as a feature in non-demented patients and no longer exclusively attributed to executive dysfunction. However, despite common reports of temporal lobe changes and memory deficits in ALS, episodic memory has been less explored. In the current study, we examined how the Papez circuit-a circuit known to participate in memory processes-is structurally and functionally affected in ALS patients (n = 20) compared with healthy controls (n = 15), and whether these changes correlated with a commonly used clinical measure of episodic memory. Our multimodal MRI approach (cortical volume, voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging and resting state functional magnetic resonance) showed reduced gray matter in left hippocampus, left entorhinal cortex and right posterior cingulate as well as increased white matter fractional anisotropy and decreased mean diffusivity in the left cingulum bundle (hippocampal part) of ALS patients compared with controls. Interestingly, thalamus, mammillary bodies and fornix were preserved. Finally, we report a decreased functional connectivity in ALS patients in bilateral hippocampus, bilateral anterior and posterior parahippocampal gyrus and posterior cingulate. The results revealed that ALS patients showed statistically significant structural changes, but more important, widespread prominent functional connectivity abnormalities across the regions comprising the Papez circuit. The decreased functional connectivity found in the Papez network may suggest these changes could be used to assess risk or assist early detection or development of memory symptoms in ALS patients even before structural changes are established.
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8
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Christidi F, Karavasilis E, Riederer F, Zalonis I, Ferentinos P, Velonakis G, Xirou S, Rentzos M, Argiropoulos G, Zouvelou V, Zambelis T, Athanasakos A, Toulas P, Vadikolias K, Efstathopoulos E, Kollias S, Karandreas N, Kelekis N, Evdokimidis I. Gray matter and white matter changes in non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with or without cognitive impairment: A combined voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics whole-brain analysis. Brain Imaging Behav 2019; 12:547-563. [PMID: 28425061 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-017-9722-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The phenotypic heterogeneity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) implies that patients show structural changes within but also beyond the motor cortex and corticospinal tract and furthermore outside the frontal lobes, even if frank dementia is not detected. The aim of the present study was to investigate both gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) changes in non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with or without cognitive impairment (ALS-motor and ALS-plus, respectively). Nineteen ALS-motor, 31 ALS-plus and 25 healthy controls (HC) underwent 3D-T1-weighted and 30-directional diffusion-weighted imaging on a 3 T MRI scanner. Voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial-statistics analysis were performed to examine GM volume (GMV) changes and WM differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), axial and radial diffusivity (AD, RD, respectively). Compared to HC, ALS-motor patients showed decreased GMV in frontal and cerebellar areas and increased GMV in right supplementary motor area, while ALS-plus patients showed diffuse GMV reduction in primary motor cortex bilaterally, frontotemporal areas, cerebellum and basal ganglia. ALS-motor patients had increased GMV in left precuneus compared to ALS-plus patients. We also found decreased FA and increased RD in the corticospinal tract bilaterally, the corpus callosum and extra-motor tracts in ALS-motor patients, and decreased FA and increased AD and RD in motor and several WM tracts in ALS-plus patients, compared to HC. Multimodal neuroimaging confirms motor and extra-motor GM and WM abnormalities in non-demented cognitively-impaired ALS patients (ALS-plus) and identifies early extra-motor brain pathology in ALS patients without cognitive impairment (ALS-motor).
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Christidi
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece.
| | - Efstratios Karavasilis
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Franz Riederer
- Neurological Center Rosenhuegel and Karl Landsteiner Institute for Epilepsy Research and Cognitive Neurology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ioannis Zalonis
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Ferentinos
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Velonakis
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Sophia Xirou
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Michalis Rentzos
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Argiropoulos
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Zouvelou
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Thomas Zambelis
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Athanasakos
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Toulas
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Efstathios Efstathopoulos
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Spyros Kollias
- Clinic of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaos Karandreas
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kelekis
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Evdokimidis
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
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Riccardi A, Puthenparampil M, Rinaldi F, Ermani M, Perini P, Gallo P. D-KEFS ST Failure Identifies Multiple Sclerosis Patients With Worse Objective and Self-Perceived Physical and Cognitive Disability. Front Psychol 2019; 10:49. [PMID: 30733696 PMCID: PMC6353833 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Test (BRB-NT) does not explore the executive functions. We combined BRB-NT and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test (D-KEFS ST) to obtain a more comprehensive evaluation of cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods: 137 Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) patients underwent a detailed neuropsychological assessment including BRB-NT, D-KEFS ST and self-administrated questionnaires, namely the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II). Results: Fifty-four patients (39.4%) had normal scores in each item of both batteries (cognitive normal), while 64 patients (46.7%) failed in at least one test of BRB-NT but not of D-KEFS ST (BRB-NT impaired) and 18 (13.1%) failed in at least one test of both batteries (BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired). Only one patient (0.7%) failed in D-KEFS ST, but not in BRB-NT and was excluded from further analysis. BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired patients had a significant higher mean disease duration and median EDSS score (15.5 ± 13.6 years and 3.5, respectively) compared to those with only BRB-NT impaired (7.9 ± 9.2, p < 0.01 and 2.5, p < 0.05) and with cognitive normal patients (6.7 ± 9.4, p < 0.005 and 2.0, p < 0.01). SDMT was more frequently impaired in BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired patients (77.8%) compared to only BRB-NT impaired ones (20.0%, p < 0.001). The failure in D-KEFS ST was associated with the number of failed BRB-NT items (OR 1.46, IC95% 1.07–1.99, p < 0.05) and with pathological SDMT z-value (OR 10.56, IC95% 2.50–44.66, p < 0.005). Compared to BRB-NT impaired patients and the cognitive normal ones, BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired patients had significant higher MSNQ (p < 0.01) and BDI-II (p < 0.05) values. Conclusion: D-KEFS ST did not increase the number of cognitively impaired MS patients identified by BRB-NT, but provided a more comprehensive evaluation of cognitive decline. D-KEFS ST identified a subgroup of patients with increased self-perception of cognitive decline, depression and higher physical disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Riccardi
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurosciences DNS, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Rinaldi
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University Hospital-Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - Mario Ermani
- Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital-Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Perini
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University Hospital-Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Gallo
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurosciences DNS, Padova, Italy
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Christidi F, Karavasilis E, Rentzos M, Kelekis N, Evdokimidis I, Bede P. Clinical and Radiological Markers of Extra-Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2018; 9:1005. [PMID: 30524366 PMCID: PMC6262087 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is now universally recognized as a complex multisystem disorder with considerable extra-motor involvement. The neuropsychological manifestations of frontotemporal, parietal, and basal ganglia involvement in ALS have important implications for compliance with assistive devices, survival, participation in clinical trials, caregiver burden, and the management of individual care needs. Recent advances in neuroimaging have been instrumental in characterizing the biological substrate of heterogeneous cognitive and behavioral deficits in ALS. In this review we discuss the clinical and radiological aspects of cognitive and behavioral impairment in ALS focusing on the recognition, assessment, and monitoring of these symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Christidi
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Karavasilis
- Second Department of Radiology, University General Hospital Attikon, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Michail Rentzos
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kelekis
- Second Department of Radiology, University General Hospital Attikon, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Evdokimidis
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Woolley SC, Rush BK. Considerations for Clinical Neuropsychological Evaluation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2018; 32:906-916. [PMID: 29028904 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acx089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical neuropsychologist has the opportunity to be uniquely involved in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We review the current literature that defines cognitive and behavioral symptoms in ALS, including current knowledge of the neuropathological and genetic underpinning for these symptoms. There are unique considerations for clinical neuropsychological evaluation and clinical research in ALS and we highlight these in this review. Specifically, we shed light on special factors that contribute to our understanding of cognitive and behavioral impairment in ALS, including co-morbid symptoms, differential diagnosis, and considerations for longitudinal tracking of phenotypes. We discuss the rationale for proposing a specific approach to such as cognitive screening, test selection, response modality consideration, and test-retest intervals. With this didactic overview, the clinical neuropsychologist has the potential to learn more about the heterogeneous presentation of motor and neuropsychological symptoms in ALS. Furthermore, the reader has the opportunity to understand what it takes to develop a valid assessment approach particularly when the phenotype of ALS remains undefined in some regards. This clinical practice review sets the stage for the clinical neuropsychologist to further contribute to our clinical and scientific understanding of ALS and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beth K Rush
- Mayo Clinic Florida, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
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Consonni M, Contarino VE, Catricalà E, Dalla Bella E, Pensato V, Gellera C, Lauria G, Cappa SF. Cortical markers of cognitive syndromes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 19:675-682. [PMID: 30023173 PMCID: PMC6046611 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can be associated with a spectrum of cognitive and behavioural symptoms, but the related patterns of focal cortical atrophy in non-demented ALS patients remain largely unknown. We enrolled 48 non-demented ALS patients and 26 healthy controls for a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and a magnetic resonance exam. Behavioural and cognitive impairment was defined on the basis of a data-driven multi-domain approach in 21 ALS patients. Averaged cortical thickness of 74 bilateral brain regions was used as a measure of cortical atrophy. Cortical thinning in a fronto-parietal network, suggesting a disease-specific pattern of neurodegeneration, was present in all patients, independent of cognitive and behavioural status. Between-group and correlational analyses revealed that inferior frontal, temporal, cingular and insular thinning are markers for cognitive and behavioural deficits, with language impairment mainly related to left temporal pole and insular involvement. These specific correlates support the concept of a spectrum of deficits, with an overlap between the ALS cognitive phenotypes and the syndromes of frontotemporal dementia. Language, social cognition and executive dysfunctions are frequent symptoms in ALS. Fronto-parietal cortical thinning is present in non-demented ALS patients. Temporal, cingular and insular thinning are markers for cognitive impairment in ALS. Left temporal pole and insular thinning is linked to language impairment in ALS.
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Key Words
- ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- ALSbi, ALS with mild behavioural impairment
- ALSci, ALS with mild cognitive impairment
- ALScn, cognitively-normal ALS
- ALSimp, ALS with cognitive and/or behavioural impairment
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- C9+ ALS, ALS harbouring C9orf72 repeat expansion
- C9– ALS, ALS without C9orf repeat expansion
- CT, cortical thickness
- Cognitive impairment
- Cognitive profiles
- Cortical thickness
- FTD, frontotemporal dementia
- GM, grey matter
- HC, healthy control
- MD, multi-domain
- Temporal lobe
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Consonni
- 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS Foundation "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Valeria E Contarino
- Neuroradiology Unit, IRCCS Foundation "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Catricalà
- Institute for Advanced Study-IUSS Pavia, Palazzo del Broletto e Piazza Vittoria 15, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Dalla Bella
- 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS Foundation "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Viviana Pensato
- Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS Foundation 'Carlo Besta' Neurological Institute, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS Foundation 'Carlo Besta' Neurological Institute, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS Foundation "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano F Cappa
- Institute for Advanced Study-IUSS Pavia, Palazzo del Broletto e Piazza Vittoria 15, 27100 Pavia, Italy; IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy
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Proactive and Reactive Aggression Subgroups in Typically Developing Children: The Role of Executive Functioning, Psychophysiology, and Psychopathy. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2018; 49:197-208. [PMID: 28681106 PMCID: PMC5856868 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-017-0741-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess whether groups of aggressive children differed on psychopathic traits, and neuropsychological and neurobiological measures of prefrontal functioning consistent with the objectives of their aggression-reactive or proactive. Including 110 typically developing children (9-11 years), a latent class analysis identified a low aggression group, a high reactive aggression group, and a mixed (high reactive and proactive) aggression group. Results show high callous-unemotional traits and low resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia increased the likelihood of children being in the mixed aggression group, when compared to the reactive and low aggression groups. However, deficits in planning and inhibitory control increased the likelihood of children being in the reactive aggression group, when compared to the mixed and low aggression groups. Executive functioning deficits did not differentiate the mixed group from the low aggression group. These findings highlight psychobiological and executive functioning differences that may explain heterogeneity in childhood aggression.
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Radakovic R, Stephenson L, Newton J, Crockford C, Swingler R, Chandran S, Abrahams S. Multidimensional apathy and executive dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cortex 2017; 94:142-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Strong MJ, Abrahams S, Goldstein LH, Woolley S, Mclaughlin P, Snowden J, Mioshi E, Roberts-South A, Benatar M, HortobáGyi T, Rosenfeld J, Silani V, Ince PG, Turner MR. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD): Revised diagnostic criteria. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2017; 18:153-174. [PMID: 28054827 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2016.1267768.amyotrophic] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This article presents the revised consensus criteria for the diagnosis of frontotemporal dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on an international research workshop on frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and ALS held in London, Canada in June 2015. Since the publication of the Strong criteria, there have been considerable advances in the understanding of the neuropsychological profile of patients with ALS. Not only is the breadth and depth of neuropsychological findings broader than previously recognised - - including deficits in social cognition and language - but mixed deficits may also occur. Evidence now shows that the neuropsychological deficits in ALS are extremely heterogeneous, affecting over 50% of persons with ALS. When present, these deficits significantly and adversely impact patient survival. It is the recognition of this clinical heterogeneity in association with neuroimaging, genetic and neuropathological advances that has led to the current re-conceptualisation that neuropsychological deficits in ALS fall along a spectrum. These revised consensus criteria expand upon those of 2009 and embrace the concept of the frontotemporal spectrum disorder of ALS (ALS-FTSD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Strong
- a Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry , London , Ontario , Canada
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- b Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences , Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Laura H Goldstein
- c King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience , London , UK
| | - Susan Woolley
- d Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Centre, California Pacific Medical Centre , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Paula Mclaughlin
- e Western University , Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry , London , ON , Canada
| | - Julie Snowden
- f Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre , Salford Royal NHS Trust and University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
| | - Eneida Mioshi
- g Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of East Anglia , Norwich , UK
| | - Angie Roberts-South
- h Northwestern University , Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders , Evanston , IL , USA
| | - Michael Benatar
- i Department of Neurology , University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami , FL , USA
| | - Tibor HortobáGyi
- j Department of Neuropathology , Institute of Pathology, University of Debrecen , Debrecen , Hungary
| | - Jeffrey Rosenfeld
- k Department of Neurology , Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda , CA , USA
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- l Department of Neurology and Laboratory Neuroscience - IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation , 'Dino Ferrari' Centre, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Paul G Ince
- m Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience , The University of Sheffield , Sheffield , UK , and
| | - Martin R Turner
- n Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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Strong MJ, Abrahams S, Goldstein LH, Woolley S, Mclaughlin P, Snowden J, Mioshi E, Roberts-South A, Benatar M, HortobáGyi T, Rosenfeld J, Silani V, Ince PG, Turner MR. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD): Revised diagnostic criteria. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2017; 18:153-174. [PMID: 28054827 PMCID: PMC7409990 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2016.1267768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 557] [Impact Index Per Article: 79.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This article presents the revised consensus criteria for the diagnosis of frontotemporal dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on an international research workshop on frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and ALS held in London, Canada in June 2015. Since the publication of the Strong criteria, there have been considerable advances in the understanding of the neuropsychological profile of patients with ALS. Not only is the breadth and depth of neuropsychological findings broader than previously recognised - - including deficits in social cognition and language - but mixed deficits may also occur. Evidence now shows that the neuropsychological deficits in ALS are extremely heterogeneous, affecting over 50% of persons with ALS. When present, these deficits significantly and adversely impact patient survival. It is the recognition of this clinical heterogeneity in association with neuroimaging, genetic and neuropathological advances that has led to the current re-conceptualisation that neuropsychological deficits in ALS fall along a spectrum. These revised consensus criteria expand upon those of 2009 and embrace the concept of the frontotemporal spectrum disorder of ALS (ALS-FTSD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Strong
- a Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry , London , Ontario , Canada
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- b Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences , Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Laura H Goldstein
- c King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience , London , UK
| | - Susan Woolley
- d Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Centre, California Pacific Medical Centre , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Paula Mclaughlin
- e Western University , Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry , London , ON , Canada
| | - Julie Snowden
- f Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre , Salford Royal NHS Trust and University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
| | - Eneida Mioshi
- g Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of East Anglia , Norwich , UK
| | - Angie Roberts-South
- h Northwestern University , Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders , Evanston , IL , USA
| | - Michael Benatar
- i Department of Neurology , University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami , FL , USA
| | - Tibor HortobáGyi
- j Department of Neuropathology , Institute of Pathology, University of Debrecen , Debrecen , Hungary
| | - Jeffrey Rosenfeld
- k Department of Neurology , Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda , CA , USA
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- l Department of Neurology and Laboratory Neuroscience - IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation , 'Dino Ferrari' Centre, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Paul G Ince
- m Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience , The University of Sheffield , Sheffield , UK , and
| | - Martin R Turner
- n Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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17
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Agosta F, Ferraro PM, Riva N, Spinelli EG, Chiò A, Canu E, Valsasina P, Lunetta C, Iannaccone S, Copetti M, Prudente E, Comi G, Falini A, Filippi M. Structural brain correlates of cognitive and behavioral impairment in MND. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 37:1614-26. [PMID: 26833930 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the structural correlates of cognitive and behavioral impairment in motor neuron diseases (MND) using multimodal MRI. METHODS One hundred one patients with sporadic MND (56 classic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 31 upper motor neuron phenotype, and 14 lower motor neuron phenotype) and 51 controls were enrolled. Patients were classified into MND with a pure motor syndrome (MND-motor) and with cognitive/behavioral symptoms (MND-plus). Cortical thickness measures and diffusion tensor (DT) metrics of white matter (WM) tracts were assessed. A random forest approach was used to explore the independent role of cortical and WM abnormalities in explaining major cognitive and behavioral symptoms. RESULTS There were 48 MND-motor and 53 MND-plus patients. Relative to controls, both patient groups showed a distributed cortical thinning of the bilateral precentral gyrus, insular and cingulate cortices, and frontotemporal regions. In all regions, there was a trend toward a more severe involvement in MND-plus cases, particularly in the temporal lobes. Both patient groups showed damage to the motor callosal fibers, which was more severe in MND-plus. MND-plus patients also showed a more severe involvement of the extra-motor WM tracts. The best predictors of executive and non-executive deficits and behavioral symptoms in MND were diffusivity abnormalities of the corpus callosum and frontotemporal tracts, including the uncinate, cingulum, and superior longitudinal fasciculi. CONCLUSIONS Cortical thinning and WM degeneration are highly associated with neuropsychological and behavioral symptoms in patients with MND. DT MRI metrics seem to be the most sensitive markers of extra-motor deficits within the MND spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Pilar M Ferraro
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo G Spinelli
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, ALS Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Elisa Canu
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Valsasina
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sandro Iannaccone
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Copetti
- Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS-Ospedale Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Evelina Prudente
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neuroradiology and CERMAC, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Comi
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Falini
- Serena Onlus Foundation, NEuroMuscular Omnicenter, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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18
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Gentsch A, Weber A, Synofzik M, Vosgerau G, Schütz-Bosbach S. Towards a common framework of grounded action cognition: Relating motor control, perception and cognition. Cognition 2016; 146:81-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2015.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Up to half of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may have cognitive difficulty, but most cognitive measures are confounded by a motor component. Studies relating impaired cognition in ALS to disease in gray matter and white matter are rare. Our objective was to assess executive function in patients with ALS using a simple, untimed measure with minimal motor demands, and to relate performance to structural disease. METHODS We gave the Visual-Verbal Test to 56 patients with ALS and 29 matched healthy controls. This brief, untimed measure of cognitive flexibility first assesses participants' ability to identify a feature shared by 3 of 4 simple geometric designs. The participants' cognitive flexibility is challenged when they are next asked to identify a different feature shared by another combination of 3 of the same 4 geometric designs. In a subset of 17 patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, regression analyses related test performance to gray matter atrophy and reduced white matter fractional anisotropy. RESULTS The patients with ALS showed significant impairment in cognitive flexibility (P<0.01), with 48.2% making an error on the test. Regression analyses related impaired cognitive flexibility to gray matter atrophy in inferior frontal and insular regions, and to reduced fractional anisotropy in white matter projections in the inferior fronto-occipital and uncinate fasciculi and corpus callosum. CONCLUSIONS Our patients with ALS had impaired cognitive flexibility on an untimed measure with minimal motor demands, a finding related in part to a large-scale frontal network that is degraded in ALS.
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Trojsi F, Caiazzo G, Corbo D, Piccirillo G, Cristillo V, Femiano C, Ferrantino T, Cirillo M, Monsurrò MR, Esposito F, Tedeschi G. Microstructural changes across different clinical milestones of disease in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119045. [PMID: 25793718 PMCID: PMC4368555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative process in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been proven to involve several cortical and subcortical brain regions within and beyond motor areas. However, how ALS pathology spreads progressively during disease evolution is still unknown. In this cross-sectional study we investigated 54 ALS patients, divided into 3 subsets according to the clinical stage, and 18 age and sex-matched healthy controls, by using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analyses. We aimed to identify white (WM) and gray matter (GM) patterns of disease distinctive of each clinical stage, corresponding to specific clinical milestones. ALS cases in stage 2A (i.e., at diagnosis) were characterized by GM and WM impairment of left motor and premotor cortices and brainstem at ponto-mesenchephalic junction. ALS patients in clinical stage 2B (with impairment of two functional regions) exhibited decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) (p<0.001, uncorrected) and increased mean (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) (p<0.001, uncorrected) in the left cerebellar hemisphere and brainstem precerebellar nuclei, as well as in motor areas, while GM atrophy (p<0.001, uncorrected) was detected only in the left inferior frontal gyrus and right cuneus. Finally, ALS patients in stage 3 (with impairment of three functional regions) exhibited decreased FA and increased MD and RD (p<0.05, corrected) within WM underneath bilateral pre and postcentral gyri, corpus callosum midbody, long associative tracts and midbrain, while no significant clusters of GM atrophy were observed. Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that the neurodegenerative process propagates along the axonal pathways and develops beyond motor areas from early stages, involving progressively several frontotemporal regions and their afferents and efferents, while the detection of GM atrophy in earlier stages and its disappearance in later stages may be the result of reactive gliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Trojsi
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- MRI Research Center SUN-FISM—Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Caiazzo
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- MRI Research Center SUN-FISM—Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Daniele Corbo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Piccirillo
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Viviana Cristillo
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Cinzia Femiano
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Ferrantino
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Cirillo
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- MRI Research Center SUN-FISM—Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Monsurrò
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- MRI Research Center SUN-FISM—Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Esposito
- MRI Research Center SUN-FISM—Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi (Salerno), Italy
| | - Gioacchino Tedeschi
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- MRI Research Center SUN-FISM—Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Avants BB, Duda JT, Kilroy E, Krasileva K, Jann K, Kandel BT, Tustison NJ, Yan L, Jog M, Smith R, Wang Y, Dapretto M, Wang DJJ. The pediatric template of brain perfusion. Sci Data 2015; 2:150003. [PMID: 25977810 PMCID: PMC4413243 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2015.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) captures the dynamics of brain development with multiple modalities that quantify both structure and function. These measurements may yield valuable insights into the neural patterns that mark healthy maturation or that identify early risk for psychiatric disorder. The Pediatric Template of Brain Perfusion (PTBP) is a free and public neuroimaging resource that will help accelerate the understanding of childhood brain development as seen through the lens of multiple modality neuroimaging and in relation to cognitive and environmental factors. The PTBP uses cross-sectional and longitudinal MRI to quantify cortex, white matter, resting state functional connectivity and brain perfusion, as measured by Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), in 120 children 7-18 years of age. We describe the PTBP and show, as a demonstration of validity, that global summary measurements capture the trajectories that demarcate critical turning points in brain maturation. This novel resource will allow a more detailed understanding of the network-level, structural and functional landmarks that are obtained during normal adolescent brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian B Avants
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Duda
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Emily Kilroy
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Kate Krasileva
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Kay Jann
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Benjamin T Kandel
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Nicholas J Tustison
- Department of Radiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA
| | - Lirong Yan
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Mayank Jog
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Robert Smith
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Danny J J Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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Ash S, Olm C, McMillan CT, Boller A, Irwin DJ, McCluskey L, Elman L, Grossman M. Deficits in sentence expression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2014; 16:31-9. [PMID: 25482157 DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2014.974617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative examinations of speech production in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are rare. To identify language features minimally confounded by a motor disorder, we investigated linguistic and motor sources of impaired sentence expression in ALS, and we related deficits to gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) MRI abnormalities. We analyzed a semi-structured speech sample in 26 ALS patients and 19 healthy seniors for motor- and language-related deficits. Regression analyses related grammaticality to GM atrophy and reduced WM fractional anisotropy (FA). Results demonstrated that ALS patients were impaired relative to controls on quantity of speech, speech rate, speech articulation errors, and grammaticality. Speech rate and articulation errors were related to the patients' motor impairment, while grammatical difficulty was independent of motor difficulty. This was confirmed in subgroups without dysarthria and without executive deficits. Regressions related grammatical expression to GM atrophy in left inferior frontal and anterior temporal regions and to reduced FA in superior longitudinal and inferior frontal-occipital fasciculi. In conclusion, patients with ALS exhibit multifactorial deficits in sentence expression. They demonstrate a deficit in grammatical expression that is independent of their motor disorder. Impaired grammatical expression is related to disease in a network of brain regions associated with syntactic processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Ash
- Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center , Philadelphia , USA
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Ash S, Menaged A, Olm C, McMillan CT, Boller A, Irwin DJ, McCluskey L, Elman L, Grossman M. Narrative discourse deficits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology 2014; 83:520-8. [PMID: 24991038 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000000670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We examined narrative discourse in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to assess the role of executive functioning in support of language and the neuroanatomical basis for such support. METHODS We analyzed a semistructured speech sample in 26 patients with ALS and 19 healthy seniors for narrative discourse features of coherence. Regression analyses related a measure of discourse coherence ("local connectedness") to gray matter atrophy and reduced white matter fractional anisotropy. RESULTS Patients with ALS were impaired relative to controls on measures of discourse adequacy, including local connectedness and maintenance of the theme. These discourse measures were related to measures of executive functioning but not to motor functioning. Regressions related local connectedness to gray matter atrophy in ventral and dorsal prefrontal regions and to reduced fractional anisotropy in white matter tracts mediating projections between prefrontal regions. CONCLUSION Patients with ALS exhibit deficits in their ability to organize narrative discourse. These deficits appear to be related in part to executive limitations. Consistent with the hypothesis that ALS is a multisystem disorder, this deficit is related to disease in prefrontal regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Ash
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
| | - Anna Menaged
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Christopher Olm
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Corey T McMillan
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Ashley Boller
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - David J Irwin
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Leo McCluskey
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Lauren Elman
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Murray Grossman
- From the Department of Neurology and the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (S.A., A.M., C.O., C.T.M., A.B., D.J.I., L.M., L.E., M.G.), and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (D.J.I.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Action verb comprehension in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. J Neurol 2014; 261:1073-9. [PMID: 24676939 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-014-7314-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have a motor disorder and cognitive difficulties, including difficulty with action verbs. However, the basis for the action verb impairment is unknown. Thirty-six participants with ALS and 22 with Parkinson's disease (PD) were assessed on a simple, two-alternative forced-choice associativity judgment task, where performance was untimed and did not depend on motor functioning. We probed 120 frequency-matched action verbs, cognition verbs, concrete nouns and abstract nouns. Performance was related to T1 MRI imaging of gray matter atrophy. Patients with ALS were significantly impaired relative to healthy senior control participants only for action verbs. Patients with PD did not differ from controls for all word categories. Regression analyses related action verb performance in ALS to motor-associated cortices, but action verb judgments in PD were not related to cortical atrophy. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that action verb difficulty in ALS is related in part to the degradation of action-related conceptual knowledge represented in motor-associated cortex.
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25
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Abstract
The Action Fluency (AF) and Action Naming (AN) are different tasks involving verb generation. Evidence indicates that verb tasks yield different information from that obtained with nouns. Objective This study aimed to analyze the information available in the scientific literature on the mechanism and clinical application of these tasks. Methods We carried out a systematic review of the literature and the findings were presented according to clinical studies and neuroimaging studies, and to the task in question. Results The literature contained a variety of relevant studies with different objectives, methodologies and populations. After the analysis (exclusion criteria) of the studies obtained by the search terms, only 40 studies were included in this review. Conclusion It was possible to conclude that AF and AN involve different brain processes, and although recruiting frontal areas and circuits, other areas are also critical. These tasks may be useful for differentiating Primary Progressive Aphasias; AF might represent a new measure of executive function; finally, both these tests can be used to provide a better understanding of cognitive processes and certain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Costa Beber
- Dementia Clinic, Neurology Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), RS, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil.,PhD Schoolarship, CAPES
| | - Márcia L F Chaves
- Dementia Clinic, Neurology Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), RS, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina Interna da Faculdade de Medicina, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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d'Ambrosio A, Gallo A, Trojsi F, Corbo D, Esposito F, Cirillo M, Monsurrò MR, Tedeschi G. Frontotemporal cortical thinning in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2014; 35:304-10. [PMID: 24113470 PMCID: PMC7965753 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a3753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The extensive application of advanced MR imaging techniques has undoubtedly improved our knowledge of the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nevertheless, the precise extent of neurodegeneration throughout the central nervous system is not fully understood. In the present study, we assessed the spatial distribution of cortical damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by using a cortical thickness measurement approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS Surface-based morphometry was performed on 20 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants. Clinical scores of disability and disease progression were correlated with measures of cortical thickness. RESULTS The patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis showed a significant cortical thinning in multiple motor and extramotor cortical areas when compared with healthy control participants. Gray matter loss was significantly related to disease disability in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (P = .04), to disease duration in the right premotor cortex (P = .007), and to disease progression rate in the left parahippocampal cortex (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS Cortical thinning of the motor cortex might reflect upper motor neuron impairment, whereas the extramotor involvement seems to be related to disease disability, progression, and duration. The cortical pattern of neurodegeneration depicted resembles what has already been described in frontotemporal dementia, thereby providing further structural evidence of a continuum between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A d'Ambrosio
- From the Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences (A.d'A., A.G., F.T., M.R.M., M.C., G.T.), Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
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Reilly J, Harnish S, Garcia A, Hung J, Rodriguez AD, Crosson B. Lesion symptom mapping of manipulable object naming in nonfluent aphasia: can a brain be both embodied and disembodied? Cogn Neuropsychol 2014; 31:287-312. [PMID: 24839997 PMCID: PMC4091963 DOI: 10.1080/02643294.2014.914022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Embodied cognition offers an approach to word meaning firmly grounded in action and perception. A strong prediction of embodied cognition is that sensorimotor simulation is a necessary component of lexical-semantic representation. One semantic distinction where motor imagery is likely to play a key role involves the representation of manufactured artefacts. Many questions remain with respect to the scope of embodied cognition. One dominant unresolved issue is the extent to which motor enactment is necessary for representing and generating words with high motor salience. We investigated lesion correlates of manipulable relative to nonmanipulable name generation (e.g., name a school supply; name a mountain range) in patients with nonfluent aphasia (N = 14). Lesion volumes within motor (BA4, where BA = Brodmann area) and premotor (BA6) cortices were not predictive of category discrepancies. Lesion symptom mapping linked impairment for manipulable objects to polymodal convergence zones and to projections of the left, primary visual cortex specialized for motion perception (MT/V5+). Lesions to motor and premotor cortex were not predictive of manipulability impairment. This lesion correlation is incompatible with an embodied perspective premised on necessity of motor cortex for the enactment and subsequent production of motor-related words. These findings instead support a graded or "soft" approach to embodied cognition premised on an ancillary role of modality-specific cortical regions in enriching modality-neutral representations. We discuss a dynamic, hybrid approach to the neurobiology of semantic memory integrating both embodied and disembodied components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Reilly
- Eleanor M. Saffran Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
| | - Stacy Harnish
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio USA
| | - Amanda Garcia
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida USA
| | - Jinyi Hung
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida USA
| | - Amy D. Rodriguez
- Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bruce Crosson
- Department of Neurology Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia USA
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia USA
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Heled E, Hoofien D, Bachner-Melman R, Bachar E, Ebstein RP. The sorting test of the D-KEFS in current and weight restored anorexia nervosa patients. Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:92-8. [PMID: 24166931 DOI: 10.1002/eat.22203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Efforts have been made to characterize executive functions (EF) in anorexia nervosa (AN) both in the acute stage of the illness and after weight gain, yet many questions remain. The question of verbal versus visuo-perceptual stimuli in this regard has not been adequately addressed. The aim of this study is to further examine EF in women with past and present AN and to compare their performances in verbal and visual modalities with women who have never suffered from an eating disorder. METHOD Thirty-five underweight AN patients, 33 weight-restored patients symptom-free for at least 2 years, and 48 healthy female controls completed the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test, so as to evaluate their EF. RESULTS No differences were observed between the scores of women with current and past AN. Both groups scored lower than controls on most test variables. However, while in the visuo-perceptual domain the performance of the AN groups was worse than that of controls, in the verbal domain they performed similarly to them. DISCUSSION Women with a past or present diagnosis of AN show difficulties in visuo-perceptual EF, whereas verbal EF seem to be preserved. There may be a dissociation between verbal and visuo-perceptual EF that persists after weight restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Heled
- Day Treatment Rehabilitation Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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29
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Meoded A, Kwan JY, Peters TL, Huey ED, Danielian LE, Wiggs E, Morrissette A, Wu T, Russell JW, Bayat E, Grafman J, Floeter MK. Imaging findings associated with cognitive performance in primary lateral sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra 2013; 3:233-50. [PMID: 24052798 PMCID: PMC3776403 DOI: 10.1159/000353456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Executive dysfunction occurs in many patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but it has not been well studied in primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). The aims of this study were to (1) compare cognitive function in PLS to that in ALS patients, (2) explore the relationship between performance on specific cognitive tests and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of white matter tracts and gray matter volumes, and (3) compare DTI metrics in patients with and without cognitive and behavioral changes. Methods The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS-2), and other behavior and mood scales were administered to 25 ALS patients and 25 PLS patients. Seventeen of the PLS patients, 13 of the ALS patients, and 17 healthy controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DTI. Atlas-based analysis using MRI Studio software was used to measure fractional anisotropy, and axial and radial diffusivity of selected white matter tracts. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess gray matter volumes. The relationship between diffusion properties of selected association and commissural white matter and performance on executive function and memory tests was explored using a linear regression model. Results More ALS than PLS patients had abnormal scores on the DRS-2. DRS-2 and D-KEFS scores were related to DTI metrics in several long association tracts and the callosum. Reduced gray matter volumes in motor and perirolandic areas were not associated with cognitive scores. Conclusion The changes in diffusion metrics of white matter long association tracts suggest that the loss of integrity of the networks connecting fronto-temporal areas to parietal and occipital areas contributes to cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avner Meoded
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., USA
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Foerster BR, Welsh RC, Feldman EL. 25 years of neuroimaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 2013; 9:513-24. [PMID: 23917850 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2013.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease for which a precise cause has not yet been identified. Standard CT or MRI evaluation does not demonstrate gross structural nervous system changes in ALS, so conventional neuroimaging techniques have provided little insight into the pathophysiology of this disease. Advanced neuroimaging techniques--such as structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy--allow evaluation of alterations of the nervous system in ALS. These alterations include focal loss of grey and white matter and reductions in white matter tract integrity, as well as changes in neural networks and in the chemistry, metabolism and receptor distribution in the brain. Given their potential for investigation of both brain structure and function, advanced neuroimaging methods offer important opportunities to improve diagnosis, guide prognosis, and direct future treatment strategies in ALS. In this article, we review the contributions made by various advanced neuroimaging techniques to our understanding of the impact of ALS on different brain regions, and the potential role of such measures in biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley R Foerster
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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