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McHutchison CA, Wuu J, McMillan CT, Rademakers R, Statland J, Wu G, Rampersaud E, Myers J, Hernandez JP, Abrahams S, Benatar M. Temporal course of cognitive and behavioural changes in motor neuron diseases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2024; 95:316-324. [PMID: 37827570 PMCID: PMC10958376 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2023-331697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive and behavioural dysfunction may occur in people with motor neuron disease (MND), with some studies suggesting an association with the C9ORF72 repeat expansion. Their onset and progression, however, is poorly understood. We explored how cognition and behaviour change over time, and whether demographic, clinical and genetic factors impact these changes. METHODS Participants with MND were recruited through the Phenotype-Genotype-Biomarker study. Every 3-6 months, the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was used to assess amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) specific (executive functioning, verbal fluency, language) and ALS non-specific (memory, visuospatial) functions. Informants reported on behaviour symptoms via semi-structured interview. RESULTS Participants with neuropsychological data at ≥3 visits were included (n=237, mean age=59, 60% male), of which 18 (8%) were C9ORF72 positive. Baseline cognitive impairment was apparent in 18 (8%), typically in ALS specific domains, and associated with lower education, but not C9ORF72 status. Cognition, on average, remained stable over time, with two exceptions: (1) C9ORF72 carriers declined in all ECAS domains, (2) 8%-9% of participants with baseline cognitive impairment further declined, primarily in the ALS non-specific domain, which was associated with less education. Behavioural symptoms were uncommon. CONCLUSIONS In this study, cognitive dysfunction was less common than previously reported and remained stable over time for most. However, cognition declines longitudinally in a small subset, which is not entirely related to C9ORF72 status. Our findings raise questions about the timing of cognitive impairment in MND, and whether it arises during early clinically manifest disease or even prior to motor manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A McHutchison
- School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joanne Wuu
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jeffrey Statland
- Department of Neurology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Evadnie Rampersaud
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jason Myers
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jessica P Hernandez
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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Baksh RA, MacPherson SE, Auyeung B, Pal S, Abrahams S. The relationship between social cognitive processes and behavior changes in people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or dementia using the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT). Neuropsychology 2024; 38:223-238. [PMID: 38095938 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE People with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or dementia often exhibit a decline in their social abilities, but few tests of social cognition exist that are suitable for clinical use. Moreover, the relationship between changes in behavior and impairments in social cognition is poorly understood. We examined the utility of the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) in people with aMCI/dementia and explored associations between social cognition performance and behavior changes. METHOD We administered the ESCoT and two established social cognition tests (the Reading the Mind in the Eyes and the Social Norms Questionnaire) to 28 people with aMCI or dementia and 28 age and sex matched cognitively healthy controls. Behavior change was measured using a semistructured interview which assesses behavioral abnormalities found in frontotemporal dementia. RESULTS People with aMCI/dementia were impaired on the ESCoT affective theory of mind, ESCoT total score and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes. Behavior changes in the domains of apathy, loss of sympathy/empathy, perseveration, and psychotic symptoms were associated with poorer affective theory of mind scores. Disinhibition, loss of sympathy/empathy and hyperorality or altered food preferences were associated with cognitive theory of mind. All behaviors were significantly associated with poorer performance on ESCoT total score, but were not associated with performance on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes or the Social Norms Questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS The ESCoT was sensitive to social cognition impairments in people with aMCI/dementia and it relates to behavior change in aMCI/dementia unlike established tests. Different subtests of the ESCoT were related to different behavior changes. These findings suggest that the ESCoT may be a clinically valuable tool when examining social cognition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- R Asaad Baksh
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London
| | - Sarah E MacPherson
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh
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Gray D, Lesley R, Mayberry EJ, Williams L, McHutchison C, Newton J, Pal S, Chandran S, MacPherson SE, Abrahams S. Development, reliability, validity, and acceptability of the remote administration of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2024; 25:96-103. [PMID: 37950613 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2278512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND ALS clinical care and research has changed dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating the need for cognitive assessments to be adapted for remote use. OBJECTIVES To develop the remote administration method of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS), and determine its reliability and validity. Methods: The validation process consisted of: (1) Two versions of the ECAS (A and B) were administered, one in-person and one remotely via video call in a randomized order to 27 people without ALS; (2) The ECAS was administered remotely to 24 pwALS, with a second rater independently scoring performance; and (3) Acceptability was assessed by gathering feedback from 17 pwALS and 19 clinicians and researchers about their experience of using the ECAS remotely. RESULTS In the group without ALS, the remote and in-person ECAS total scores were found to be equivalent, and a Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement between the two administration methods. In pwALS, there was excellent agreement between two raters (ICC = 0.99). Positive feedback was gained from pwALS, researchers and clinicians with regards to ease of process, convenience, time, and the environment. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide evidence of the reliability and validity of the remote administration of the ECAS for pwALS, with clinicians, researchers and pwALS viewing it as a good alternative to face-to-face administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie Gray
- 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
| | - Rosemary Lesley
- Sheffield Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre & Clinical Neuropsychology Services, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emily J Mayberry
- Sheffield Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre & Clinical Neuropsychology Services, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Caroline McHutchison
- 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
| | - Judith Newton
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah E MacPherson
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - 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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Beswick E, Johnson M, Newton J, Dakin R, Stenson A, Abrahams S, Carson A, Chandran S, Pal S. Factors impacting trial participation in people with motor neuron disease. J Neurol 2024; 271:543-552. [PMID: 37787812 PMCID: PMC10769905 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12010-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Motor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. Historically, neurological trials have been plagued by suboptimal recruitment and high rates of attrition. The Motor Neuron Disease-Systematic Multi-Arm Randomised Adaptive Trial (MND-SMART) seeks to identify effective disease modifying drugs. This study investigates person-specific factors affecting recruitment and retention. Improved understanding of these factors may improve trial protocol design, optimise recruitment and retention. Participants with MND completed questionnaires and this was supplemented with clinical data. 12 months after completing the questionnaires we used MND-SMART recruitment data to establish if members of our cohort engaged with the trial. 120 people with MND completed questionnaires for this study. Mean age at participation was 66 (SD = 9), 14% (n = 17) were categorised as long survivors, with 68% (n = 81) of participants male and 60% (n = 73) had the ALS sub-type. Of the 120 study participants, 50% (n = 60) were randomised into MND-SMART and 78% (n = 94) expressed interest an in participating. After the 1-year follow-up period 65% (n = 39) of the 60 randomised participants remained in MND-SMART. Older age was significantly associated with reduced likelihood of participation (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.88-0.96, p = 0.000488). The findings show that people with MND are highly motivated to engage in research, but older individuals remain significantly less likely to participate. We recommend the inclusion of studies to explore characteristics of prospective and current participants alongside trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beswick
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Micheala Johnson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Judith Newton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Rachel Dakin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Amy Stenson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Alan Carson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland.
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Beswick E, Forbes D, Johnson M, Newton J, Dakin R, Glasmcher S, Abrahams S, Carson A, Chandran S, Pal S. Non-motor symptoms in motor neuron disease: prevalence, assessment and impact. Brain Commun 2023; 6:fcad336. [PMID: 38162906 PMCID: PMC10754319 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
People with motor neuron disease often experience non-motor symptoms that may occur secondary to, or distinct from, motor degeneration and that may significantly reduce quality of life, despite being under-recognized and evaluated in clinical practice. Non-motor symptoms explored in this population-based study include pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, poor sleep, low mood, anxiety, problematic saliva, apathy, emotional lability, cognitive complaints and sexual dysfunction. People registered on the Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation of motor neuron disease platform, the Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Register, were invited to complete a questionnaire on non-motor symptoms and a self-reported Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale. The questionnaire comprised a pre-defined list of 11 potential non-motor symptoms, with the opportunity to list additional symptoms. A total of 120 individuals participated in this cross-sectional study, a 39% response rate of those sent questionnaires (n = 311); 99% of participants recruited (n = 120) experienced at least one non-motor symptom, with 72% (n = 120) reporting five or more. The symptoms most often reported were pain and fatigue (reported by 76% of participants, respectively). The symptoms reported to be most impactful were gastrointestinal issues (reported as 'severe' by 54% of participants who experienced them), followed by pain and problematic saliva (51%, respectively). Lower Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale scores, indicating more advanced disease and being a long survivor [diagnosed over 8 years ago; Black et al. (Genetic epidemiology of motor neuron disease-associated variants in the Scottish population. Neurobiol Aging. 2017;51:178.e11-178.e20.)], were significantly associated with reporting more symptoms; 73% of respondents were satisfied with the frequency that non-motor symptoms were discussed in clinical care; 80% of participants indicated they believe evaluation of non-motor symptom is important to include as outcomes in trials, independent of their personal experience of these symptoms. The preferred method of assessment was completing questionnaires, at home. The overwhelming majority of people with motor neuron disease report non-motor symptoms and these frequently co-occur. Pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, sleep, mood, anxiety, problematic saliva, apathy, emotional lability, cognitive complaints and sexual dysfunction are prevalent. People with motor neuron disease who had worse physical function and those who were long survivors were more likely to report more symptoms. Where reported, these symptoms are frequent, impactful and a priority for people with motor neuron disease in clinical care and trial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beswick
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Deborah Forbes
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Micheala Johnson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judith Newton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachel Dakin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stella Glasmcher
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Alan Carson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Rifai OM, O’Shaughnessy J, Dando OR, Munro AF, Sewell MDE, Abrahams S, Waldron FM, Sibley CR, Gregory JM. Distinct neuroinflammatory signatures exist across genetic and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cohorts. Brain 2023; 146:5124-5138. [PMID: 37450566 PMCID: PMC10690026 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons. ALS is on a pathogenetic disease spectrum with frontotemporal dementia, referred to as ALS-frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD). For mutations associated with ALS-FTSD, such as the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion, the molecular factors associated with heterogeneity along this spectrum require further characterization. Here, using a targeted NanoString molecular barcoding approach, we interrogate neuroinflammatory dysregulation and heterogeneity at the level of gene expression in post-mortem motor cortex tissue from a cohort of clinically heterogeneous C9-ALS-FTSD cases. We identified 20 dysregulated genes in C9-ALS-FTSD, with enrichment of microglial and inflammatory response gene sets. Two genes with significant correlations to available clinical metrics were selected for validation: FKBP5, a correlate of cognitive function, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a correlate of disease duration. FKBP5 and its signalling partner, NF-κB, appeared to have a cell type-specific staining distribution, with activated (i.e. nuclear) NF-κB immunoreactivity in C9-ALS-FTSD. Expression of BDNF, a correlate of disease duration, was confirmed to be higher in individuals with long compared to short disease duration using BaseScope™ in situ hybridization. Our analyses also revealed two distinct neuroinflammatory panel signatures (NPS), NPS1 and NPS2, delineated by the direction of expression of proinflammatory, axonal transport and synaptic signalling pathways. We compared NPS between C9-ALS-FTSD cases and those from sporadic ALS and SOD1-ALS cohorts and identified NPS1 and NPS2 across all cohorts. Moreover, a subset of NPS was also able to separate publicly available RNA sequencing data from independent C9-ALS and sporadic ALS cohorts into two inflammatory subgroups. Importantly, NPS subgroups did not clearly segregate with available demographic, genetic, clinical or pathological features, highlighting the value of molecular stratification in clinical trials for inflammatory subgroup identification. Our findings thus underscore the importance of tailoring therapeutic approaches based on distinct molecular signatures that exist between and within ALS-FTSD cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Rifai
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Judi O’Shaughnessy
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Owen R Dando
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XF, UK
| | - Alison F Munro
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Michael D E Sewell
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AD, UK
| | - Fergal M Waldron
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Christopher R Sibley
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XF, UK
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Lee J, Kim A, Choi SJ, Cho E, Seo J, Oh SI, Jung J, Kim JS, Sung JJ, Abrahams S, Hong YH. Development and Validation of the Korean Version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS-K). J Clin Neurol 2023; 19:454-459. [PMID: 37488957 PMCID: PMC10471544 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2022.0403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cognitive and behavioral changes are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with about 15% of patients presenting with overt frontotemporal dementia and 30%-50% with varying degrees of impairments. We aimed to develop and validate the Korean version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS-K), a brief multidomain assessment tool developed for ALS patients with physical disability. METHODS We developed the ECAS-K according to the translation guidelines, and administered it to 38 patients with ALS and 26 age- and education-level-matched controls. We also administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) to investigate convergent validity, and the Center for Neurologic Study-Liability Scale to assess the association between pseudobulbar affect and cognitive/behavioral changes. RESULTS Internal consistency among the ECAS-K test items was found to be high, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87. Significant differences were found between patients with ALS and the controls in language, fluency, and memory functions (p<0.05). Abnormal performance based on the ECAS total score was noted in 39.4% of patients, and 66.6% presented behavioral changes in at least one domain. Significant correlations were observed between the scores of the ECAS-K and those of other cognitive screening tools (MoCA and FAB, with correlation coefficients of 0.69 and 0.55, respectively; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS We developed and validated the ECAS-K which could be used as an effective tool to screen the cognitive and behavioral impairments in Korean patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeun Lee
- Department of Neurology, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Ahwon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seok-Jin Choi
- Department of Neurology, Center for Hospital Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eric Cho
- Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Seong-Il Oh
- Department of Neurology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Jinho Jung
- Department of Neurology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Ji-Sun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Incheon Sejong Hospital, Incheon, Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Sung
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yoon-Ho Hong
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Council, Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
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9
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Costello E, Ryan M, Donohoe B, Kavanagh C, Pinto-Grau M, Doherty M, McLaughlin RL, McHutchison C, Abrahams S, Heverin M, Hardiman O, Pender N. Cognitive and neuropsychiatric endophenotypes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad166. [PMID: 37288312 PMCID: PMC10243911 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
First- and second-degree relatives of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis report higher rates of neuropsychiatric disorders, indicating that risk genes may be pleiotropic, causing multiple phenotypes within kindreds. Such phenotypes may constitute a disease endophenotype that associates with disease liability. We have directly investigated cognitive functioning and neuropsychiatric traits among relatives of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to identify potential endophenotypes of the disease. In a family-based, cross-sectional study design, first- and second-degree relatives of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 149) were compared to controls (n = 60) using an in-depth neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric assessment. Subgroup analyses examined the effect of family history and C9orf72 repeat expansion status (n = 16 positive carriers). Relatives of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis had lower scores on executive functioning, language and memory tasks compared to controls, with large effect sizes observed on object naming (d = 0.91, P = 0.00001) and phonemic verbal fluency (d = 0.81, P = 0.0003). Relatives also had higher autism quotient attention to detail traits (d = -0.52, P = 0.005), lower conscientiousness (d = 0.57, P = 0.003) and lower openness to experience personality traits (d = 0.54, P = 0.01) than controls. These effects were typically larger in relatives of people with familial, rather than sporadic, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and were present in both gene carrier and non-carrier relatives of probands with a C9orf72 repeat expansion. Poorer phonemic fluency and object naming, along with autism and personality traits, are more frequent in relatives of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Among kindreds carrying the C9orf72 repeat expansion, these traits were identified in relatives regardless of their carrier status, suggesting the presence of a disease-associated endophenotype that is not exclusively mediated by the C9orf72 expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmet Costello
- Correspondence to: Emmet Costello Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute Pearse Street, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland E-mail:
| | | | - Bronagh Donohoe
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
| | - Caoimhe Kavanagh
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
| | - Marta Pinto-Grau
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
- Psychology Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin D09 V2N0, Ireland
| | - Mark Doherty
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
| | | | - Caroline McHutchison
- Human Cognitive Neurosciences–Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology, Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AD, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neurosciences–Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology, Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AD, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Mark Heverin
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
| | - Niall Pender
- Psychology Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin D09 V2N0, Ireland
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10
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Canu E, Castelnovo V, Rancoita PM, Leocadi M, Lamanuzzi A, Spinelli EG, Basaia S, Riva N, Poletti B, Solca F, Verde F, Ticozzi N, Silani V, Abrahams S, Filippi M, Agosta F. Italian reference values and brain correlates of verbal fluency index - vs standard verbal fluency test - to assess executive dysfunction in ALS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-9. [PMID: 36654496 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2167606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), verbal fluency index (Vfi) is used to investigate fluency accounting for motor impairment. This study has three aims: (1) to provide Vfi reference values from a cohort of Italian healthy subjects; (2) to assess the ability of Vfi reference values (vs standard verbal fluency test [VFT]) in distinguishing ALS patients with and without executive dysfunction; and (3) to investigate the association between Vfi and brain structural features of ALS patients. Methods: We included 180 healthy subjects and 157 ALS patients who underwent neuropsychological assessment, including VFT and Vfi, and brain MRI. Healthy subjects were split into four subgroups according to sex and education. For each subgroup, we defined the 95th percentile of Vfi as the cutoff. In ALS, the distributions of "abnormal" cases based on Vfi and standard VFT cutoffs were compared using Fisher's exact test. Using quantile regressions in patients, we assessed the association between Vfi and VFT scores, separately, with gray matter volumes and white matter (WM) tract integrity. Results: Applying Vfi and VFT cutoffs, 9 and 13% of ALS cases, respectively, had abnormal scores (p < 0.001). In ALS, while higher Vfi scores were associated with WM changes of callosal fibers linking supplementary motor area, lower VFT performances related to corticospinal tract alterations. Discussion: We provided Italian reference values for the spoken Vfi. Compared to VFT, Vfis are critical to disentangle motor and cognitive deficits in ALS. In patients, abnormal Vfis were associated with damage to WM tracts specifically involved in ideational information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Canu
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Castelnovo
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Mv Rancoita
- University Centre for Statistics in the Biomedical Sciences (CUSSB), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Leocadi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Lamanuzzi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Gioele Spinelli
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Basaia
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 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
| | - 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
| | - 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
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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11
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Beswick E, Fawcett T, Hassan Z, Forbes D, Dakin R, Newton J, Abrahams S, Carson A, Chandran S, Perry D, Pal S. A systematic review of digital technology to evaluate motor function and disease progression in motor neuron disease. J Neurol 2022; 269:6254-6268. [PMID: 35945397 PMCID: PMC9363141 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11312-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common subtype of motor neuron disease (MND). The current gold-standard measure of progression is the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALS-FRS(R)), a clinician-administered questionnaire providing a composite score on physical functioning. Technology offers a potential alternative for assessing motor progression in both a clinical and research capacity that is more sensitive to detecting smaller changes in function. We reviewed studies evaluating the utility and suitability of these devices to evaluate motor function and disease progression in people with MND (pwMND). We systematically searched Google Scholar, PubMed and EMBASE applying no language or date restrictions. We extracted information on devices used and additional assessments undertaken. Twenty studies, involving 1275 (median 28 and ranging 6-584) pwMND, were included. Sensor type included accelerometers (n = 9), activity monitors (n = 4), smartphone apps (n = 4), gait (n = 3), kinetic sensors (n = 3), electrical impedance myography (n = 1) and dynamometers (n = 2). Seventeen (85%) of studies used the ALS-FRS(R) to evaluate concurrent validity. Participant feedback on device utility was generally positive, where evaluated in 25% of studies. All studies showed initial feasibility, warranting larger longitudinal studies to compare device sensitivity and validity beyond ALS-FRS(R). Risk of bias in the included studies was high, with a large amount of information to determine study quality unclear. Measurement of motor pathology and progression using technology is an emerging, and promising, area of MND research. Further well-powered longitudinal validation studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beswick
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Thomas Fawcett
- The School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Zack Hassan
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Deborah Forbes
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Rachel Dakin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Judith Newton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Alan Carson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - David Perry
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. .,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK. .,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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12
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Rifai OM, Longden J, O'Shaughnessy J, Sewell MDE, Pate J, McDade K, Daniels MJ, Abrahams S, Chandran S, McColl BW, Sibley CR, Gregory JM. Random forest modelling demonstrates microglial and protein misfolding features to be key phenotypic markers in C9orf72-ALS. J Pathol 2022; 258:366-381. [PMID: 36070099 PMCID: PMC9827842 DOI: 10.1002/path.6008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Clinical heterogeneity observed across patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a known complicating factor in identifying potential therapeutics, even within cohorts with the same mutation, such as C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions (HREs). Thus, further understanding of pathways underlying this heterogeneity is essential for appropriate ALS trial stratification and the meaningful assessment of clinical outcomes. It has been shown that both inflammation and protein misfolding can influence ALS pathogenesis, such as the manifestation or severity of motor or cognitive symptoms. However, there has yet to be a systematic and quantitative assessment of immunohistochemical markers to interrogate the potential relevance of these pathways in an unbiased manner. To investigate this, we extensively characterised features of commonly used glial activation and protein misfolding stains in thousands of images of post-mortem tissue from a heterogeneous cohort of deeply clinically profiled patients with a C9orf72 HRE. Using a random forest model, we show that microglial staining features are the most accurate classifiers of disease status in our panel and that clinicopathological relationships exist between microglial activation status, TDP-43 pathology, and language dysfunction. Furthermore, we detected spatially resolved changes in fused in sarcoma (FUS) staining, suggesting that liquid-liquid phase shift of this aggregation-prone RNA-binding protein may be important in ALS caused by a C9orf72 HRE. Interestingly, no one feature alone significantly impacted the predictiveness of the model, indicating that the collective examination of all features, or a combination of several features, is what allows the model to be predictive. Our findings provide further support to the hypothesis of dysfunctional immune regulation and proteostasis in the pathogenesis of C9-ALS and provide a framework for digital analysis of commonly used neuropathological stains as a tool to enrich our understanding of clinicopathological relationships within and between cohorts. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Rifai
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James Longden
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judi O'Shaughnessy
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael DE Sewell
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judith Pate
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karina McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Barry W McColl
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christopher R Sibley
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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13
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Benatar M, Wuu J, McHutchison C, Postuma RB, Boeve BF, Petersen R, Ross CA, Rosen H, Arias JJ, Fradette S, McDermott MP, Shefner J, Stanislaw C, Abrahams S, Cosentino S, Andersen PM, Finkel RS, Granit V, Grignon AL, Rohrer JD, McMillan CT, Grossman M, Al-Chalabi A, Turner MR. Preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases. Brain 2022; 145:27-44. [PMID: 34677606 PMCID: PMC8967095 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in understanding the pre-symptomatic phase of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. While much is still unknown, advances in other neurodegenerative diseases offer valuable insights. Indeed, it is increasingly clear that the well-recognized clinical syndromes of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophy and frontotemporal dementia are also each preceded by a pre-symptomatic or prodromal period of varying duration, during which the underlying disease process unfolds, with associated compensatory changes and loss of inherent system redundancy. Key insights from these diseases highlight opportunities for discovery in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The development of biomarkers reflecting amyloid and tau has led to a shift in defining Alzheimer's disease based on inferred underlying histopathology. Parkinson's disease is unique among neurodegenerative diseases in the number and diversity of non-genetic biomarkers of pre-symptomatic disease, most notably REM sleep behaviour disorder. Huntington's disease benefits from an ability to predict the likely timing of clinically manifest disease based on age and CAG-repeat length alongside reliable neuroimaging markers of atrophy. Spinal muscular atrophy clinical trials have highlighted the transformational value of early therapeutic intervention, and studies in frontotemporal dementia illustrate the differential role of biomarkers based on genotype. Similar advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would transform our understanding of key events in pathogenesis, thereby dramatically accelerating progress towards disease prevention. Deciphering the biology of pre-symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis relies on a clear conceptual framework for defining the earliest stages of disease. Clinically manifest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may emerge abruptly, especially among those who harbour genetic mutations associated with rapidly progressive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the disease may also evolve more gradually, revealing a prodromal period of mild motor impairment preceding phenoconversion to clinically manifest disease. Similarly, cognitive and behavioural impairment, when present, may emerge gradually, evolving through a prodromal period of mild cognitive impairment or mild behavioural impairment before progression to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biomarkers are critically important to studying pre-symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and essential to efforts to intervene therapeutically before clinically manifest disease emerges. The use of non-genetic biomarkers, however, presents challenges related to counselling, informed consent, communication of results and limited protections afforded by existing legislation. Experiences from pre-symptomatic genetic testing and counselling, and the legal protections against discrimination based on genetic data, may serve as a guide. Building on what we have learned-more broadly from other pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases and specifically from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis gene mutation carriers-we present a road map to early intervention, and perhaps even disease prevention, for all forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Joanne Wuu
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Caroline McHutchison
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ronald B Postuma
- Department of Neurology, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Howard Rosen
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jalayne J Arias
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael P McDermott
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Richard S Finkel
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Volkan Granit
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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14
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Banerjee P, Elliott E, Rifai OM, O'Shaughnessy J, McDade K, Abrahams S, Chandran S, Smith C, Gregory JM. NLRP3 inflammasome as a key molecular target underlying cognitive resilience in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Pathol 2022; 256:262-268. [PMID: 34883532 DOI: 10.1002/path.5846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Up to 50% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients present with cognitive deficits in addition to motor dysfunction, but the molecular mechanisms underlying diverse clinical and pathological presentations remain poorly understood. There is therefore an unmet need to identify molecular drivers of cognitive dysfunction to enable better therapeutic targeting and prognostication. To address this, we employed a non-biased approach to identify molecular targets using a deeply phenotyped, clinically stratified cohort of cognitively affected and unaffected brain regions from three brain regions of 13 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with the same cognitive screening test performed during life. Using NanoString molecular barcoding as a sensitive mRNA sequencing technique on post-mortem tissue, we profiled a data-driven panel of 770 genes using the Neuropathology Panel, followed by region and cell type-specific validation using BaseScope in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry. We identified 50 significantly dysregulated genes that are distinct between cognitively affected and unaffected brain regions. Using BaseScope in situ hybridisation, we also demonstrate that macromolecular complex regulation, notably NLRP3 inflammasome modulation, is a potential, therapeutically targetable, pathological correlate of cognitive resilience in ALS. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poulomi Banerjee
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Elizabeth Elliott
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Olivia M Rifai
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judi O'Shaughnessy
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karina McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Beswick E, Forbes D, Hassan Z, Wong C, Newton J, Carson A, Abrahams S, Chandran S, Pal S. A systematic review of non-motor symptom evaluation in clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2022; 269:411-426. [PMID: 34120226 PMCID: PMC8738361 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is increasingly recognised as a multi-system disorder, presenting with common and impactful non-motor symptoms, such as neuropsychiatric symtpoms, cognitive and behavioural changes, pain, disordered sleep, fatigue and problematic saliva. AIM/HYPOTHESIS We aimed to systematically review 25 years of ALS clinical trials data to identify if non-motor features were evaluated, in addition to the traditional measures of motor functioning and survival, and where evaluated to describe the instruments used to assess. We hypothesised that assessment of non-motor symptoms has been largely neglected in trial design and not evaluated with ALS-suitable instruments. METHODS We reviewed clinical trials of investigative medicinal products in ALS, since the licensing of riluzole in 1994. Trial registry databases including WHO International Trials Registry, European Clinical Trials Register, clinicaltrials.gov, and PubMed were systematically searched for Phase II, III or IV trials registered, completed or published between 01/01/1994 and 16/09/2020. No language restrictions were applied. RESULTS 237 clinical trials, including over 29,222 participants, were investigated for their use of non-motor outcome measures. These trials evaluated neuropsychiatric symptoms (75, 32%), cognitive impairment (16, 6.8%), behavioural change (34, 14%), pain (55, 23%), sleep disturbances (12, 5%) and fatigue (18, 8%). Problematic saliva was assessed as part of composite ALS-FRS(R) scores in 184 trials (78%) but with no focus on this as an isolated symptom. 31 (13%) trials including 3585 participants did not include any assessment of non-motor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Non-motor symptoms such as neuropsychiatric, cognitive and behavioural changes, pain, disordered sleep, fatigue, and problematic saliva have not been consistently evaluated in trials for people with ALS. Where evaluated, non-symptoms were primarily assessed using instruments and impairment thresholds that are not adapted for people with ALS. Future trials should include non-motor symptom assessments to evaluate the additional potential therapeutic benefit of candidate drugs. PROPSERO REGISTRATION CRD42020223648.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beswick
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Deborah Forbes
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Zack Hassan
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Charis Wong
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Judith Newton
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Alan Carson
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. .,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland, UK. .,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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De Icaza Valenzuela MM, Bak TH, Thompson HE, Colville S, Pal S, Abrahams S. Validation of The Edinburgh cognitive and behavioural ALS screen (ECAS) in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2021; 36:1576-1587. [PMID: 33983668 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was developed to assess cognitive and behavioural changes in an anterior frontotemporal syndrome (executive functions, language, fluency and behaviour), common in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and also assesses posterior cerebral dysfunction (memory and visuospatial abilities). OBJECTIVES To validate the ECAS in behavioural variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD) without ALS, as compared with Alzheimer's disease (AD), against comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Compare its sensitivity to that of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-III) and investigate behavioural changes in both types of dementia. METHODS Retrospective study of 16 people with bvFTD (without ALS), 32 with AD, and 48 healthy controls completed the ECAS, ACE-III and extensive neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS The ECAS showed higher sensitivity (94%) and marginally lower specificity (96%) than the ACE-III for both the bvFTD and AD groups. The anterior composite subscore was sensitive for bvFTD (94%), and slightly less so for AD (84%), while the posterior composite subscore was sensitive for AD (97%), and less so for bvFTD (75%). All people with bvFTD that were impaired on the ECAS total and anterior composite scores were also impaired on the anterior function's tests of the neuropsychological assessment. A cut-off of four or more behavioural domains affected differentiated well between the bvFTD and AD groups, while a qualitative analysis of the behavioural interview found different themes between groups. CONCLUSIONS The ECAS is a valid and sensitive assessment for bvFTD without ALS and for AD. The carer behavioural interview makes it particularly suitable to detect behavioural abnormalities related to frontal lobe disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica M De Icaza Valenzuela
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience -Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas H Bak
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience -Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Harriet E Thompson
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience -Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Shuna Colville
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience -Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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Radakovic R, Colville S, Cranley D, Starr JM, Pal S, Abrahams S. Multidimensional Apathy in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, and Alzheimer Disease. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2021; 34:349-356. [PMID: 32410488 PMCID: PMC8326892 DOI: 10.1177/0891988720924716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Apathy is prevalent in dementia, such as behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and Alzheimer disease (AD). As a multidimensional construct, it can be assessed and subsumed under a Dimensional Apathy Framework. A consistent apathy profile in bvFTD and PPA has yet to be established. The aim was to explore apathy profiles and awareness in bvFTD, PPA, and AD. A total of 12 patients with bvFTD, 12 patients with PPA, 28 patients with AD, and 20 matched controls, as well as their informants/carers, were recruited. All participants completed the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS), assessing executive, emotional, and initiation apathy subtypes, a 1-dimensional apathy measure, depression measure, and functional and cognitive screens. Apathy subtype awareness was determined through DAS informant/carer and self-rating discrepancy. Apathy profile comparison showed patients with bvFTD had significantly higher emotional apathy than patients with AD (P < .01) and significantly higher apathy over all subtypes than patients with PPA (Ps < .05). Additionally, patients with bvFTD had significantly lower awareness for emotional apathy (P < .01) when compared to patients with AD and PPA. All patient groups had significant global apathy over all subtypes compared to controls. The emergent apathy profile for bvFTD seems to be emotional apathy (indifference or emotional/affective neutrality), with lower self-awareness in this subtype. Further, lower self-awareness for executive apathy (lack of motivation for planning, organization, or attention) differentiates bvFTD from PPA. Future research should investigate the cognitive and neural correlates as well as the practical impact of apathy subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratko Radakovic
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Ratko Radakovic, University of East Anglia Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom. Emails: ;
| | - Shuna Colville
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Denise Cranley
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - John M. Starr
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Deceased
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Beswick E, Forbes D, Hassan Z, Wong C, Chandran S, Newton J, Carson A, Abrahams S, Pal S. #3080 A systematic review of extra-motor symptom evaluation in clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2021. [DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-bnpa.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is increasingly recognised as a multi-system disorder, presenting with extra-motor symptoms which arise secondary to motor degeneration or are indicative of wider pathophysiology. Extra-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment, behavioural change, neuropsychiatric symptoms, sleep disturbances, fatigue, sialorrhea, and pain are common in, and impactful upon, people with ALS.Aim/HypothesisWe aimed to systematically review historical clinical trials in ALS to identify if extra-motor features of ALS were explored as outcome measures and if so describe the tools used. We hypothesise that assessment of extra-motor symptoms has been largely neglected in trial design and that where evaluated, it has been with assessment tools which are not designed to evaluate these symptoms in people with ALS.MethodsWe reviewed clinical trials of investigative medicinal products in ALS, since the licensing of riluzole. Trial registry databases including WHO International Trials Registry, European Clinical Trials Register, clinicaltrials.gov, and PubMed were systematically searched for Phase II, III or IV trials registered, completed or published between 01/01/1994 and 16/09/2020. No language restrictions were applied. We evaluated the use of assessment tools to investigate extra-motor symptom as outcome measures.Results237 clinical trials were included in this review for use of outcome measures. These trials evaluated cognitive impairment (16 trials, 6.8%), behavioural change (38, 16%), neuropsychiatric symptoms (75, 32%), sleep disturbances (12, 5%), fatigue (18), 8%, saliva (182, 77%) and pain (55, 23%). 29 trials (12%) did not include any assessment of extra-motor symptoms. 51 versions or combinations of assessment tools were utilised in these trials. The most commonly used primary outcome measure in ALS trials, the ALS-FRS(R), is a physical functioning assessment with one sub-domain item assessing saliva. The ALS-FRS accounted for the full number of trials assessing saliva in this review. 6 instruments used were ALS-specific (designed and validated specifically for people with ALS), 14 were symptom-specific, 4 were both, and 9 were generic (evaluated the symptom within a general measure, eg QoL).ConclusionsExtra-motor symptoms have been under-evaluated in trials for people with ALS. Where evaluated, this has been primarily using assessment tools which are not specific to ALS or the extra-motor symptom, which may affect the validity of conclusions drawn regarding the impact of candidate drugs.
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Beswick E, Glasmacher SA, Dakin R, Newton J, Carson A, Abrahams S, Chandran S, Pal S. Prospective observational cohort study of factors influencing trial participation in people with motor neuron disease (FIT-participation-MND): a protocol. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e044996. [PMID: 33757953 PMCID: PMC7993162 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Motor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. The Motor Neuron Disease Systematic Multi-Arm Randomised Adaptive Trial (MND-SMART) is a multisite UK trial seeking to address the paucity in effective disease-modifying drugs for people with MND (pwMND). Historically, neurological trials have been plagued by suboptimal recruitment and high rates of attrition. Failure to recruit and/or retain participants can cause insufficiently representative samples, terminated trials or invalid conclusions. This study investigates patient-specific factors affecting recruitment and retention of pwMND to MND-SMART. Improved understanding of these factors may improve trial protocol design, optimise recruitment and retention. METHODS AND ANALYSIS PwMND on the Scottish MND Register, Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation of MND (CARE-MND), will be invited to participate in a prospective observational cohort study that investigates factors affecting trial participation and attrition. We hypothesise that patient-specific factors will significantly affect trial recruitment and retention. Participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms, the ALS-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Form and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention-Health-Related Quality of Life for quality of life and a novel study-specific questionnaire on Attitudes towards Clinical Trial Participation (ACT-Q). Clinical data on phenotype, cognition (Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen) and physical functioning (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised) will also be collated. Caregivers will complete the Brief Dimensional Apathy Scale. After 12 months, a data request to MND-SMART will evaluate recruitment and retention. Descriptive statistics will summarise and compare assessments and participants reaching impairment thresholds. Variable groupings: attitudes, quality of life, cognition, behaviour, physical functioning, neuropsychiatric and phenotype. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression will explore association with participation/withdrawal in MND-SMART; presented as ORs and 95% CIs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was provided by the West of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 3 (20/WS/0067) on 12 May 2020. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at academic conferences and disseminated to participants and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beswick
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stella A Glasmacher
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachel Dakin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judith Newton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alan Carson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Human Cognitive Neurosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh Division of Medical and Radiological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
- The National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Research and Surveillance Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
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Radakovic R, Gray D, Dudley K, Mioshi E, Dick D, Melchiorre G, Gordon H, Newton J, Colville S, Pal S, Chandran S, Abrahams S. Reliability and validity of the brief dimensional apathy scale. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2020; 35:539-544. [PMID: 32045001 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acaa002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Apathy is composed of different demotivational subtypes measurable by the dimensional apathy scale (DAS) and can be quickly assessed using the brief DAS (b-DAS). The aim was to determine the reliability and validity of the b-DAS. METHODS 53 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and 53 of their informants were recruited. Informants completed the b-DAS, the original informant/carer-rated DAS and behavioral interview about the patients (i.e., presence of behaviors such as apathy/inertia, loss of sympathy/empathy). Patients completed measures of depression, anxiety, emotional lability, cognitive functioning, and functional disability measures. RESULTS The b-DAS showed good internal consistency, excellent test-retest reliability, significant positive correlation with the original DAS, and no significant correlations with depression, anxiety, emotional lability, cognitive functioning or functional disability measures. Semi-structured behavior interview showed patients with apathy/inertia had significantly higher b-DAS subscale scores and patients with loss of sympathy/empathy had significantly higher emotional apathy scores only. CONCLUSIONS The b-DAS is a fast, reliable, and valid instrument for screening apathy subtypes independent of physical disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratko Radakovic
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.,Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Debbie Gray
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kaitlin Dudley
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK
| | - Eneida Mioshi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - David Dick
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK
| | - Giulia Melchiorre
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Harry Gordon
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judith Newton
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Shuna Colville
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Beswick E, Park E, Wong C, Mehta AR, Dakin R, Chandran S, Newton J, Carson A, Abrahams S, Pal S. A systematic review of neuropsychiatric and cognitive assessments used in clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2020; 268:4510-4521. [PMID: 32910255 PMCID: PMC8563523 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10203-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Up to 50% of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) experience cognitive dysfunction, whilst depression and anxiety are reported in up to 44% and 33%, respectively. These symptoms impact on quality of life, and are associated with a poorer prognosis. Historically, outcomes in clinical trials have focused on the effect of candidate drugs on physical functioning. Methods We reviewed the past 25 years of clinical trials of investigative medicinal products in people with ALS, since the licensing of riluzole, and extracted data on frequency and type of assessment for neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment. Trial registry databases, including WHO International Trials Registry, European Clinical Trials Register, clinicaltrials.gov, and PubMed, were systematically searched for Phase II, III or IV trials registered, completed or published between 01/01/1994 and 31/10/2019. No language restrictions were applied. Outcome measures, exclusion criteria and assessment tool used were extracted. Results 216 trials, investigating 26,326 people with ALS, were reviewed. 35% assessed neuropsychiatric symptoms, and 22% assessed cognition, as Exclusion Criteria or Outcome Measures. 3% (n = 6) of trials assessed neuropsychiatric symptoms as a Secondary Outcome Measure, and 4% (n = 8) assessed cognition as Outcome Measures; only one trial included assessments for both cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms as Outcome Measures. Three ALS-specific assessments were used in six trials. Conclusions Trials for people with ALS have neglected the importance of neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment. Evaluation of these extra-motor features is essential to understanding the impact of candidate drugs on all symptoms of ALS. PROPSERO registration CRD42020175612. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00415-020-10203-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beswick
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, 49 Little France Crescent, EH16 4SB, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Emily Park
- The School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Charis Wong
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, 49 Little France Crescent, EH16 4SB, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Arpan R Mehta
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, 49 Little France Crescent, EH16 4SB, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Rachel Dakin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, 49 Little France Crescent, EH16 4SB, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, 49 Little France Crescent, EH16 4SB, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Judith Newton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, 49 Little France Crescent, EH16 4SB, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alan Carson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. .,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, 49 Little France Crescent, EH16 4SB, Edinburgh, UK. .,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
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22
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Gabel MC, Broad RJ, Young AL, Abrahams S, Bastin ME, Goldstein LH, Turner MR, Cercignani M, Leigh PN. Reply to: Early white matter changes on diffusion tensor imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1266-1267. [PMID: 32639092 PMCID: PMC7359105 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matt C Gabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Rebecca J Broad
- Department of Neuroscience, Trafford Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Alexandra L Young
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark E Bastin
- 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
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mara Cercignani
- Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - P Nigel Leigh
- Department of Neuroscience, Trafford Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
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23
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Gabel MC, Broad RJ, Young AL, Abrahams S, Bastin ME, Menke RAL, Al‐Chalabi A, Goldstein LH, Tsermentseli S, Alexander DC, Turner MR, Leigh PN, Cercignani M. Evolution of white matter damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:722-732. [PMID: 32367696 PMCID: PMC7261765 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize disease evolution in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using an event-based model designed to extract temporal information from cross-sectional data. Conventional methods for understanding mechanisms of rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorders are limited by the subjectivity inherent in the selection of a limited range of measurements, and the need to acquire longitudinal data. METHODS The event-based model characterizes a disease as a series of events, each comprising a significant change in subject state. The model was applied to data from 154 patients and 128 healthy controls selected from five independent diffusion MRI datasets acquired in four different imaging laboratories between 1999 and 2016. The biomarkers modeled were mean fractional anisotropy values of white matter tracts implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The cerebral portion of the corticospinal tract was divided into three segments. RESULTS Application of the model to the pooled datasets revealed that the corticospinal tracts were involved before other white matter tracts. Distal corticospinal tract segments were involved earlier than more proximal (i.e., cephalad) segments. In addition, the model revealed early ordering of fractional anisotropy change in the corpus callosum and subsequently in long association fibers. INTERPRETATION These findings represent data-driven evidence for early involvement of the corticospinal tracts and body of the corpus callosum in keeping with conventional approaches to image analysis, while providing new evidence to inform directional degeneration of the corticospinal tracts. This data-driven model provides new insight into the dynamics of neuronal damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt C. Gabel
- Department of NeuroscienceClinical Imaging Sciences CentreBrighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonEast SussexUnited Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J. Broad
- Department of NeuroscienceTrafford CentreBrighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonEast SussexUnited Kingdom
| | - Alexandra L. Young
- Centre for Medical Image ComputingDepartment of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTUnited Kingdom
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Department of PsychologySchool of Philosophy, Psychology & Language SciencesEuan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease ResearchUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Mark E. Bastin
- Department of PsychologySchool of Philosophy, Psychology & Language SciencesEuan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease ResearchUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Ricarda A. L. Menke
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingFMRIBNuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Ammar Al‐Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical NeuroscienceKing's College LondonMaurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
- Department of NeurologyKing’s College HospitalLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura H. Goldstein
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Daniel C. Alexander
- Centre for Medical Image ComputingDepartment of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTUnited Kingdom
| | - Martin R. Turner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingFMRIBNuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - P. Nigel Leigh
- Department of NeuroscienceTrafford CentreBrighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonEast SussexUnited Kingdom
| | - Mara Cercignani
- Department of NeuroscienceClinical Imaging Sciences CentreBrighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonEast SussexUnited Kingdom
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24
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Stavrou M, Newton J, Stott G, Colville S, Chandran S, Abrahams S, Pal S, Davenport R. National audit of cognitive assessment in people with pwMND A national audit of cognitive assessment in people with motor neurone disease (pwMND) in Scotland. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020; 21:459-462. [PMID: 32308027 PMCID: PMC7497277 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1752249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive and behavioral abnormalities are recognized as an integral part of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and occur at all stages of the disease. The early detection of cognitive and behavioral symptoms in MND is critical. Such symptoms are only reported when we explicitly ask, evaluate, document, and assess. In the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) MND guideline (2016), formal cognitive and behavioral assessment is incorporated in MND management and is fundamental to providing appropriate care to pwMND. Cognition is explicitly stated in 14 separate recommendations in the guidelines. The NICE guidelines therefore constitute pre-defined standards which we audited. This audit highlights that health professionals increasingly recognize the significance of cognitive screening in MND and follow more structured approaches in implementing this compared to previous years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stavrou
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan Macdonald Centre of MND Research, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
| | - Judith Newton
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan Macdonald Centre of MND Research, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
| | - Gill Stott
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Shuna Colville
- Euan Macdonald Centre of MND Research, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan Macdonald Centre of MND Research, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and.,Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation for Motor Neurone Disease, Scotland, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan Macdonald Centre of MND Research, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan Macdonald Centre of MND Research, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and.,Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation for Motor Neurone Disease, Scotland, UK
| | - Richard Davenport
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan Macdonald Centre of MND Research, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and.,Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation for Motor Neurone Disease, Scotland, UK
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25
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Manera V, Abrahams S, Agüera-Ortiz L, Bremond F, David R, Fairchild K, Gros A, Hanon C, Husain M, König A, Lockwood PL, Pino M, Radakovic R, Robert G, Slachevsky A, Stella F, Tribouillard A, Trimarchi PD, Verhey F, Yesavage J, Zeghari R, Robert P. Recommendations for the Nonpharmacological Treatment of Apathy in Brain Disorders. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2020; 28:410-420. [PMID: 31495772 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2019.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Apathy is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome observed across many neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders. Although there are currently no definitive standard therapies for the treatment of apathy, nonpharmacological treatment (NPT) is often considered to be at the forefront of clinical management. However, guidelines on how to select, prescribe, and administer NPT in clinical practice are lacking. Furthermore, although new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are beginning to be employed in NPT, their role is still unclear. The objective of the present work is to provide recommendations for the use of NPT for apathy, and to discuss the role of ICT in this domain, based on opinions gathered from experts in the field. The expert panel included 20 researchers and healthcare professionals working on brain disorders and apathy. Following a standard Delphi methodology, experts answered questions via several rounds of web-surveys, and then discussed the results in a plenary meeting. The experts suggested that NPT are useful to consider as therapy for people presenting with different neurocognitive and psychiatric diseases at all stages, with evidence of apathy across domains. The presence of a therapist and/or a caregiver is important in delivering NPT effectively, but parts of the treatment may be performed by the patient alone. NPT can be delivered both in clinical settings and at home. However, while remote treatment delivery may be cost and time-effective, it should be considered with caution, and tailored based on the patient's cognitive and physical profile and living conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Manera
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France; Association Innovation Alzheimer (VM, PR), Nice, France.
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences (SA), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (SA, RR), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Luis Agüera-Ortiz
- Department of Psychiatry (LA-O), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (imas12), Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre & CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - François Bremond
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France; INRIA (FB, AK), STARS Team, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Renaud David
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice (RD, PR), CMRR, Nice, France
| | - Kaci Fairchild
- Department of Veterans Affairs (KF, JY), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, CA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (KF, JY), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Auriane Gros
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France
| | - Cécile Hanon
- Psychiatric Department, Regional Resource Center of Old Age Psychiatry Corentin-Celton Hospital (CH), Academic Hospital West Paris, AP-HP, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Masud Husain
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (MH, PL), John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; Department of Experimental Psychology (MH, PL), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (MH, PL), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra König
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France; INRIA (FB, AK), STARS Team, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Patricia L Lockwood
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (MH, PL), John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; Department of Experimental Psychology (MH, PL), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (MH, PL), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Maribel Pino
- Broca Living Lab (MP), AP-HP, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France
| | - Ratko Radakovic
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (SA, RR), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (RR), University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom; Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (RR), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Robert
- EA4712 "Comportement et Noyaux Gris Centraux" (GR), Université de Rennes1, France
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO) (AS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC) (AS), Physiopathology Department - ICBM, Chile; Neuroscience and East Neuroscience Departments (AS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Chile; Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department (AS), Hospital del Salvador and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Servicio de Neurología (AS), Departamento de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Florindo Stella
- Laboratório de Neurociências LIM27 (FS), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil; UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista (FS), Biosciences Institute, Campus of Rio Claro, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Anaïs Tribouillard
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France; ISTR (AT), Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences and Techniques, University of Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Specialised Alzheimer Team (AT), SSIAD Quimper, France
| | | | - Frans Verhey
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology (FV), Maastricht University, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jerome Yesavage
- Department of Veterans Affairs (KF, JY), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, CA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (KF, JY), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Radia Zeghari
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France
| | - Philippe Robert
- Université Côte d'Azur, CoBTeK lab (VM, FB, RD, AG, AK,AT, RZ, PR), Nice, France; Association Innovation Alzheimer (VM, PR), Nice, France; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice (RD, PR), CMRR, Nice, France
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26
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Baksh RA, Abrahams S, Bertlich M, Cameron R, Jany S, Dorrian T, Baron-Cohen S, Allison C, Smith P, MacPherson SE, Auyeung B. Social cognition in adults with autism spectrum disorders: Validation of the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT). Clin Neuropsychol 2020; 35:1275-1293. [PMID: 32189564 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2020.1737236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many existing tests of social cognition are not appropriate for clinical use, due to their length, complexity or uncertainty in what they are assessing. The Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) is a new test of social cognition that assesses affective and cognitive Theory of Mind as well as inter- and intrapersonal understanding of social norms using animated interactions. METHOD To support the development of the ESCoT as a clinical tool, we derived cut-off scores from a neurotypical population (n = 236) and sought to validate the ESCoT in a sample of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD; n = 19) adults and neurotypical controls (NC; n = 38) matched on age and education. The ESCoT was administered alongside established tests and questionnaire measures of ASD, empathy, systemizing traits and intelligence. RESULTS Performance on the subtests of the ESCoT and ESCoT total scores correlated with performance on traditional tests, demonstrating convergent validity. ASD adults performed poorer on all measures of social cognition. Unlike the ESCoT, performance on the established tests was predicted by verbal comprehension abilities. Using a ROC curve analysis, we showed that the ESCoT was more effective than existing tests at differentiating ASD adults from NC. Furthermore, a total of 42.11% of ASD adults were impaired on the ESCoT compared to 0% of NC adults. CONCLUSIONS Overall these results demonstrate that the ESCoT is a useful test for clinical assessment and can aid in the detection of potential difficulties in ToM and social norm understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Asaad Baksh
- Centre for Dementia Prevention, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maya Bertlich
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rebecca Cameron
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Jany
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Terin Dorrian
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carrie Allison
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paula Smith
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah E MacPherson
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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27
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McHutchison CA, Leighton DJ, McIntosh A, Cleary E, Warner J, Porteous M, Chandran S, Pal S, Abrahams S. Relationship between neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive and behavioural change in MND. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020; 91:245-253. [PMID: 31871139 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2019-321737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this population-based study, we aimed to determine whether neuropsychiatric history, medication or family history of neuropsychiatric disorders predicted cognitive and/or behavioural impairment in motor neuron disease (MND). METHODS People with MND (pwMND) on the Scottish Clinical, Audit, Research and Evaluation of MND (CARE-MND) register, diagnosed from January 2015 to January 2018, with cognitive and/or behavioural data measured using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen were included. Data were extracted on patient neuropsychiatric, medication and family history of neuropsychiatric disorders. We identified patients with cognitive impairment (motor neuron disease with cognitive impairment (MNDci)), behavioural impairment (motor neuron disease with behavioural impairment (MNDbi), both (motor neuron disease with cognitive and behavioural impairment (MNDcbi)) or motor neuron disease-frontotemporal dementia (MND-FTD). RESULTS Data were available for 305 pwMND (mean age at diagnosis=62.26 years, SD=11.40), of which 60 (19.7%) had a neuropsychiatric disorder. A family history of neuropsychiatric disorders was present in 36/231 (15.58%) of patients. Patient premorbid mood disorders were associated with increased apathy (OR=2.78, 95% CI 1.083 to 7.169). A family history of any neuropsychiatric disorder was associated with poorer visuospatial scores, MNDbi (OR=3.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 8.99) and MND-FTD (OR=5.08, 95% CI 1.26 to 20.40). A family history of mood disorders was associated with poorer overall cognition (exp(b)=0.725, p=0.026), language, verbal fluency and visuospatial scores, and MND-FTD (OR=7.57, 95% CI 1.55 to 46.87). A family history of neurotic disorders was associated with poorer language (exp(b)=0.362, p<0.001), visuospatial scores (exp(b)=0.625, p<0.009) and MND-FTD (OR=13.75, 95% CI 1.71 to 110.86). CONCLUSION Neuropsychiatric disorders in patients and their families are associated with cognitive and behavioural changes post-MND diagnosis, with many occurring independently of MND-FTD and C9orf72 status. These findings support an overlap between MND, frontotemporal dementia and neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A McHutchison
- Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK .,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Danielle Jane Leighton
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew McIntosh
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Elaine Cleary
- Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine, South East Scotland Genetics Service, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jon Warner
- Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine, South East Scotland Genetics Service, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mary Porteous
- Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine, South East Scotland Genetics Service, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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28
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Gregory JM, McDade K, Bak TH, Pal S, Chandran S, Smith C, Abrahams S. Executive, language and fluency dysfunction are markers of localised TDP-43 cerebral pathology in non-demented ALS. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020; 91:149-157. [PMID: 31515300 PMCID: PMC6996101 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2019-320807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Approximately 35% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) exhibit mild cognitive deficits in executive functions, language and fluency, without dementia. The precise pathology of these extramotor symptoms has remained unknown. This study aimed to determine the pathological correlate of cognitive impairment in patients with non-demented ALS. METHODS In-depth neuropathological analysis of 27 patients with non-demented ALS who had undergone cognitive testing (Edinburgh Cognitive and Behaviour ALS Screen (ECAS)) during life. Analysis involved assessing 43 kDa Tar-DNA binding protein (TDP-43) accumulation in brain regions specifically involved in executive functions, language functions and verbal fluency to ascertain whether functional deficits would relate to a specific regional distribution of pathology. RESULTS All patients with cognitive impairment had TDP-43 pathology in extramotor brain regions (positive predictive value of 100%). The ECAS also predicted TDP-43 pathology with 100% specificity in brain regions associated with executive, language and fluency domains. We also detected a subgroup with no cognitive dysfunction, despite having substantial TDP-43 pathology, so called mismatch cases. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive impairment as detected by the ECAS is a valid predictor of TDP-43 pathology in non-demented ALS. The profile of mild cognitive deficits specifically predicts regional cerebral involvement. These findings highlight the utility of the ECAS in accurately assessing the pathological burden of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karina McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Thomas H Bak
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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29
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Mehta AR, Selvaraj BT, Barton SK, McDade K, Abrahams S, Chandran S, Smith C, Gregory JM. Improved detection of RNA foci in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis post-mortem tissue using BaseScope™ shows a lack of association with cognitive dysfunction. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa009. [PMID: 32226938 PMCID: PMC7099934 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion is the commonest known genetic mutation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A neuropathological hallmark is the intracellular accumulation of RNA foci. The role that RNA foci play in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is widely debated. Historically, C9orf72 RNA foci have been identified using in situ hybridization. Here, we have implemented BaseScope™, a high-resolution modified in situ hybridization technique. We demonstrate that previous studies have underestimated the abundance of RNA foci in neurons and glia. This improved detection allowed us to investigate the abundance, regional distribution and cell type specificity of sense C9orf72 RNA foci in post-mortem brain and spinal cord tissue of six deeply clinically phenotyped C9orf72 patients and six age- and sex-matched controls. We find a correlation between RNA foci and the accumulation of transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa in spinal motor neurons (rs = 0.93; P = 0.008), but not in glia or cortical motor neurons. We also demonstrate that there is no correlation between the presence of RNA foci and the accumulation of transactive response DNA binding protein of 43 kDa in extra-motor brain regions. Furthermore, there is no association between the presence of RNA foci and cognitive indices. These results highlight the utility of BaseScope™ in the clinicopathological assessment of the role of sense RNA foci in C9orf72.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpan R Mehta
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Bhuvaneish T Selvaraj
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Samantha K Barton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Karina McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, inStem, Bangalore, India.,MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,MRC Edinburgh Brain Bank, Academic Department of Neuropathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Edinburgh Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,MRC Edinburgh Brain Bank, Academic Department of Neuropathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Edinburgh Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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30
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Hodgins F, Mulhern S, Abrahams S. The clinical impact of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) and neuropsychological intervention in routine ALS care. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 21:92-99. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1674874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Faith Hodgins
- Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Mulhern
- Neuropsychology & Neurorehabilitation, Ayreshire Central Hospital, Irvine, UK, and
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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31
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Kourtesis P, Christidi F, Margioti E, Demenega C, Rentzos M, Evdokimidis I, Abrahams S. The Edinburgh cognitive and behavioral amyotrophic lateral sclerosis screen (ECAS): sensitivity in differentiating between ALS and Alzheimer's disease in a Greek population. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 21:78-85. [PMID: 31469297 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1655059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: (1) Adapt the ECAS into Greek, validate it in ALS patients and compare with the ALS-CBS. (2) Determine the sensitivity and specificity of ECAS in the differentiation between AD and non-demented ALS patients as compared with the ACE-III and mini-ACE. Methods: ALS patients (n = 28) were recruited and AD patients (n = 26) were matched in age, sex, and education with ALS patients (n = 24). The normative data were derived from a random sample of controls (n = 52). Bayes correlation analysis was conducted to examine convergent validity. Bayes t-test was performed to assess between groups' differences. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses and area under the curve (AUC) were implemented to appraise the sensitivity and specificity in the differentiation between the AD and non-demented ALS patients. Results: The ECAS and its sub-scores in addition to the behavior interview demonstrated robust correlations with the ALS-CBS. Impairment in language and verbal fluency were the most prominent deficits in the ALS patients. The most frequently reported change was apathy. The ROC analysis demonstrated that the ECAS-ALS nonspecific score (comprising memory and visuospatial domains) is the most sensitive and specific in differentiating the AD from ALS patients. The other measures expressed high sensitivity, yet a poor specificity. Conclusions: The ECAS is a multi-purpose screening tool. The ECAS-ALS specific appraises the whole spectrum of the highly prevalent cognitive impairments in ALS. The ECAS-ALS nonspecific (memory and visuospatial) is a sensitive score to detect AD related deficits and is able to differentiate the AD from the non-demented ALS patients better than the ACE-III and mini-ACE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kourtesis
- Department of Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Lab of Experimental Psychology, Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre for Planning and Research "Scienza Nuova", Suor Orsola, Benincasa University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Foteini Christidi
- A' Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Margioti
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Athens Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Athens, Greece, and
| | - Christina Demenega
- Athens Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Athens, Greece, and
| | - Michail Rentzos
- A' Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Evdokimidis
- A' Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Department of Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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32
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Gregory JM, Elliott E, McDade K, Bak T, Pal S, Chandran S, Abrahams S, Smith C. Neuronal clusterin expression is associated with cognitive protection in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2019; 46:255-263. [PMID: 31386770 PMCID: PMC7318312 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Clusterin is a topologically dynamic chaperone protein with the ability to participate in both intra- and extacellular proteostasis. Clusterin has been shown to be upregulated in the spinal cord of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and has been shown to protect against TDP-43 protein misfolding in animal and cell models. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between the pathological burden of TDP-43 misfolding and cognitive deficits in ALS, demonstrating high specificity, but correspondingly low sensitivity owing to a subset of individuals with no evidence of cognitive deficits despite a high burden of TDP-43 pathology, called mismatch cases. METHODS Hypothesizing that differences in the ability to cope with protein misfolding in these cases may be due to differences in expression of protective mechanisms such as clusterin expression, we assessed the spatial expression of clusterin and another chaperone protein, HspB8, in post mortem brain tissue of mismatch cases. We employed a modified in situ hybridization technique called BaseScope, with single cell, single transcript resolution. RESULTS Mismatch cases demonstrated differential spatial expression of clusterin, with a predominantly neuronal pattern, compared to cases with cognitive manifestations of their TDP-43 pathology who demonstrated a predominantly glial distribution of expression. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that, in individuals with TDP-43 pathology, predominantly neuronal expression of clusterin in extra-motor brain regions may indicate a cell protective mechanism delaying clinical manifestations such as cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - E Elliott
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - K McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - T Bak
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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33
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Abrahams S, Crockford C. Author response: ALS-specific cognitive and behavior changes associated with advancing disease stage in ALS. Neurology 2019; 93:86. [DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000007760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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34
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Radakovic R, McGrory S, Chandran S, Swingler R, Pal S, Stephenson L, Colville S, Newton J, Starr JM, Abrahams S. The brief Dimensional Apathy Scale: A short clinical assessment of apathy. Clin Neuropsychol 2019; 34:423-435. [PMID: 31154933 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2019.1621382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Apathy is a prominent syndrome across neurodegenerative diseases. The Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) assesses three apathy subtypes-executive, emotional, and initiation-and is sensitive and valid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease. This study describes the development of the brief DAS (b-DAS), which will enable apathy to be swiftly detected in the clinic.Method: 102 ALS and 102 AD patients' previously collected data were used. Mokken analyses were performed on item-level data of each informant/carer-rated DAS subscale (executive, emotional, and initiation) for the initial scale reduction. Item-total correlational analyses against standard apathy (convergent validity criteria) and depression (divergent validity criteria) measures and qualitative examination of items aided final item selection. Receiver operating curve analysis determined optimal cutoffs for the reduced subscales.Results: Mokken analyses suggested unidimensionality of each DAS subscale. Three items were removed that failed to satisfy monotone homogeneity model requirements, three items were removed due to validity criteria not being met, and six items were removed due to a combination of lower item scalability and item-total correlations. Item-theme examination further reduced the b-DAS to nine items, three per subscale, with a supplemental awareness deficit assessment being added. Sensitivity- and specificity-based optimal cutoffs were calculated for each b-DAS subscale.Conclusions: This study presents the b-DAS, an informant/carer-based robust yet short multidimensional apathy instrument with good convergent and divergent validity, with recommended clinical cutoffs. The b-DAS is appropriate for use in the clinic and for research to quickly and comprehensively screen for apathy subtype impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratko Radakovic
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Sarah McGrory
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Robert Swingler
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Laura Stephenson
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Shuna Colville
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judy Newton
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - John M Starr
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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35
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Leighton D, Newton J, Colville S, Bethell A, Craig G, Cunningham L, Flett M, Fraser D, Hatrick J, Lennox H, Marshall L, McAleer D, McEleney A, Millar K, Silver A, Stephenson L, Stewart S, Storey D, Stott G, Thornton C, Webber C, Gordon H, Melchiorre G, Sherlock L, Beswick E, Buchanan D, Abrahams S, Bateman A, Preston J, Duncan C, Davenport R, Gorrie G, Morrison I, Swingler R, Chandran S, Pal S. Clinical audit research and evaluation of motor neuron disease (CARE-MND): a national electronic platform for prospective, longitudinal monitoring of MND in Scotland. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 20:242-250. [PMID: 30889975 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1582673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Launched in 1989, the Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Register (SMNDR) has provided a resource for prospective clinical data collection. However, in 2015 we aimed to evolve a system to allow: i) A patient-centered approach to care based on recognized standards, ii) Harmonized data sharing between Scottish health professionals in "real-time", iii) Regular audit of care to facilitate timely improvements in service delivery, and iv) Patient participation in a diverse range of observational and interventional research studies including clinical trials. Methods: We developed a standardized national electronic data platform-Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation of MND (CARE-MND) which integrates clinical audit and research data fields. Data completion pre- and post-CARE-MND were compared, guided by recently published National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations. Statistical difference in data capture between time periods was assessed using Z-test of proportions. Results: Data field completion for the historical 2011-2014 period ranged from 4 to 95%; median 50%. CARE-MND capture ranged from 32 to 98%; median 87%. 15/17 fields were significantly more complete post-CARE-MND (p < 0.001). All MND nurse/allied health specialists in Scotland use the CARE-MND platform. Management of MND in Scotland is now coordinated through a standardized template. Conclusions: Through CARE-MND, national audits of MND care and interventions have been possible, leading to protocols for harmonized service provision. Stratification of the MND population is facilitating participation in observational and interventional studies. CARE-MND can act as a template for other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Leighton
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK.,d Department of Neurology , NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde , Glasgow , UK
| | - Judith Newton
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Shuna Colville
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Andrew Bethell
- e Department of Neurology , NHS Highland , Inverness , UK
| | - Gillian Craig
- f Department of Neurology , NHS Tayside , Dundee , UK
| | - Laura Cunningham
- d Department of Neurology , NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde , Glasgow , UK.,g Department of Neurology , NHS Lanarkshire , Glasgow , UK
| | - Moira Flett
- h Department of Neurology , NHS Orkney , Kirkwall , UK
| | - Dianne Fraser
- i Department of Neurology , NHS Grampian , Aberdeen , UK
| | - Janice Hatrick
- d Department of Neurology , NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde , Glasgow , UK
| | - Helen Lennox
- j Department of Neurology , NHS Ayrshire & Arran , Ayr , UK.,k Department of Neurology , NHS Dumfries & Galloway , Dumfries , UK
| | - Laura Marshall
- l Department of Neurology , NHS Forth Valley , Stirling , UK
| | | | - Alison McEleney
- c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK.,m Department of Neurology , NHS Borders , Melrose , UK
| | - Kitty Millar
- n Department of Neurology , NHS Western Isles , Stornoway , UK , and
| | - Ann Silver
- d Department of Neurology , NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde , Glasgow , UK.,g Department of Neurology , NHS Lanarkshire , Glasgow , UK
| | - Laura Stephenson
- b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Susan Stewart
- i Department of Neurology , NHS Grampian , Aberdeen , UK
| | | | - Gill Stott
- c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK.,m Department of Neurology , NHS Borders , Melrose , UK
| | - Carol Thornton
- i Department of Neurology , NHS Grampian , Aberdeen , UK
| | | | - Harry Gordon
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Giulia Melchiorre
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Laura Sherlock
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Emily Beswick
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - David Buchanan
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Anthony Bateman
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Jenny Preston
- j Department of Neurology , NHS Ayrshire & Arran , Ayr , UK
| | - Callum Duncan
- i Department of Neurology , NHS Grampian , Aberdeen , UK
| | - Richard Davenport
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - George Gorrie
- b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,d Department of Neurology , NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde , Glasgow , UK
| | - Ian Morrison
- f Department of Neurology , NHS Tayside , Dundee , UK
| | - Robert Swingler
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- a Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Department of Neurology , NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital , Edinburgh , UK.,l Department of Neurology , NHS Forth Valley , Stirling , UK
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Keller J, Böhm S, Aho-Özhan HEA, Loose M, Gorges M, Kassubek J, Uttner I, Abrahams S, Ludolph AC, Lulé D. Functional reorganization during cognitive function tasks in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Imaging Behav 2019; 12:771-784. [PMID: 28600740 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-017-9738-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits, especially in the domains of social cognition and executive function including verbal fluency, are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. There is yet sparse understanding of pathogenesis of the underlying, possibly adaptive, cortical patterns. To address this issue, 65 patients with ALS and 33 age-, gender- and education-matched healthy controls were tested on cognitive and behavioral deficits with the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), cortical activity during social cognition and executive function tasks (theory of mind, verbal fluency, alternation) adapted from the ECAS was determined in a 3 Tesla scanner. Compared to healthy controls, ALS patients performed worse in the ECAS overall (p < 0.001) and in all of its subdomains (p < 0.02), except memory. Imaging revealed altered cortical activation during all tasks, with patients consistently showing a hyperactivation in relevant brain areas compared to healthy controls. Additionally, cognitively high performing ALS patients consistently exhibited more activation in frontal brain areas than low performing patients and behaviorally unimpaired patients presented with more neuronal activity in orbitofrontal areas than behaviorally impaired patients. In conclusion, hyperactivation in fMRI cognitive tasks seems to represent an early adaptive process to overcome neuronal cell loss in relevant brain areas. The hereby presented cortical pattern change might suggest that, once this loss passes a critical threshold and no cortical buffering is possible, clinical representation of cognitive and behavioral impairment evolves. Future studies might shed light on the pattern of cortical pattern change in the course of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Keller
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sarah Böhm
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Helena E A Aho-Özhan
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus Loose
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Gorges
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ingo Uttner
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Psychology-PPLS, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research & Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH89JZ, UK
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dorothée Lulé
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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37
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Clare L, Teale JC, Toms G, Kudlicka A, Evans I, Abrahams S, Goldstein LH, Hindle JV, Ho AK, Jahanshahi M, Langdon D, Morris R, Snowden JS, Davies R, Markova I, Busse M, Thompson-Coon J. Cognitive rehabilitation, self-management, psychotherapeutic and caregiver support interventions in progressive neurodegenerative conditions: A scoping review. NeuroRehabilitation 2019; 43:443-471. [DOI: 10.3233/nre-172353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Clare
- Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- PenCLAHRC, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
- Centre for Research Excellence in Cognitive Health, Australian National University, Canberra City, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Gill Toms
- Wales School for Social Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, UK
| | - Aleksandra Kudlicka
- Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- PenCLAHRC, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Isobel Evans
- Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Psychology-PPLS and Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Laura H. Goldstein
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - John V. Hindle
- Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Aileen K. Ho
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | - Dawn Langdon
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, London, UK
| | - Robin Morris
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Julie S. Snowden
- Cerebral Function Unit, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK
| | - Rhys Davies
- Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ivana Markova
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Monica Busse
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
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De Icaza Valenzuela MM, Bak TH, Pal S, Abrahams S. The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS screen: relationship to age, education, IQ and the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 19:585-590. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1491601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica M. De Icaza Valenzuela
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience – Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE), The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
| | - Thomas H. Bak
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience – Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE), The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience – Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE), The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, and
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Crockford C, Newton J, Lonergan K, Chiwera T, Booth T, Chandran S, Colville S, Heverin M, Mays I, Pal S, Pender N, Pinto-Grau M, Radakovic R, Shaw CE, Stephenson L, Swingler R, Vajda A, Al-Chalabi A, Hardiman O, Abrahams S. ALS-specific cognitive and behavior changes associated with advancing disease stage in ALS. Neurology 2018; 91:e1370-e1380. [PMID: 30209236 PMCID: PMC6177274 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000006317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To elucidate the relationship between disease stage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as measured with the King's Clinical Staging System, and cognitive and behavioral change, measured with the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). Methods A large multicenter observational cohort of 161 cross-sectional patients with ALS and 80 healthy matched controls were recruited across 3 research sites (Dublin, Edinburgh, and London). Participants were administered the ECAS and categorized into independent groups based on their King's clinical disease stage at time of testing. Results Significant differences were observed between patients and controls on all subtests of the ECAS except for visuospatial functioning. A significant cross-sectional effect was observed across disease stages for ALS-specific functions (executive, language, letter fluency) and ECAS total score but not for ALS-nonspecific functions (memory, visuospatial). Rates of ALS-specific impairment and behavioral change were also related to disease stage. The relationship between cognitive function and disease stage may be due to letter fluency impairment, whereas higher rates of all behavioral domains were seen in later King's stage. The presence of bulbar signs, but not site of onset, was significantly related to ALS-specific, ECAS total, and behavioral scores. Conclusion ALS-specific cognitive deficits and behavioral impairment are more frequent with more severe disease stage. By end-stage disease, only a small percentage of patients are free of neuropsychological impairment. The presence of bulbar symptoms exaggerates the differences observed between disease stages. These findings suggest that cognitive and behavioral change should be incorporated into ALS diagnostic criteria and should be included in future staging systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Crockford
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Judith Newton
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Katie Lonergan
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Theresa Chiwera
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Tom Booth
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Shuna Colville
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Mark Heverin
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Iain Mays
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Niall Pender
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Marta Pinto-Grau
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Ratko Radakovic
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Laura Stephenson
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Robert Swingler
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Alice Vajda
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- From Human Cognitive Neuroscience (C.C., J.N., T.B., R.R., S.A.), Psychology, Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (C.C., S.A.), and Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (R.R.), University of Edinburgh; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (J.N., S.C., S.P., R.R., L.S., R.S., S.A.), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology (K.L., M.H., I.M., M.P.-G., A.V., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Departments of Psychology (K.L., I.M., N.P., M.P.-G.) and Neurology (O.H.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; and Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (T.C., C.E.S., A.A.-C.), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.
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Poletti B, Solca F, Carelli L, Faini A, Madotto F, Lafronza A, Monti A, Zago S, Ciammola A, Ratti A, Ticozzi N, Abrahams S, Silani V. Cognitive-behavioral longitudinal assessment in ALS: the Italian Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS screen (ECAS). Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 19:387-395. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1473443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy,
| | - 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,
| | - Fabiana Madotto
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy,
| | - Annalisa Lafronza
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,
| | - Alessia Monti
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa Cura Policlinico (CCP), Milan, Italy,
| | - Stefano Zago
- Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy and
| | - Andrea Ciammola
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,
| | - Antonia Ratti
- 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,
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- PPLS, Department of Psychology, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - 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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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Apathy is a prominent and disabling symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) and is a multidimensional behaviour, but which dimensions are specifically affected is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) and explore the multidimensional profile of apathy in PD patients. METHODS Thirty-four PD patients, with 30 of their informants/carers, and 34 healthy controls, with 30 of their informants, completed the DAS, Apathy Evaluation Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form. Motor staging and independent living status were recorded. RESULTS Comparative group analyses revealed that PD patients were significantly more apathetic on self-rated executive (p = 0.01) and initiation (p = 0.03) dimensions than controls, where only executive apathy was significantly higher in ratings of patients' informants/carers compared with controls' informants (p = 0.02). A third of patients were impaired on at least one apathy dimension. Additionally, patients with apathy tended to have more impaired activities of daily living, while none of the apathy dimensions related to motor disability. CONCLUSION Our findings show the DAS is a valid and reliable multidimensional apathy tool for use in PD. PD is characterised by an executive apathy profile as determined by informants/carers, although patients described both executive and initiation apathy. This indicates a lack of motivation for planning, organisation and attention and lack of initiation of thoughts or behaviours. Further research is needed to determine the cognitive underpinnings of this emerging apathy profile and the clinical impact in PD. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratko Radakovic
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Richard Davenport
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - John M Starr
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Crockford C, Newton J, Lonergan K, Madden C, Mays I, O'Sullivan M, Costello E, Pinto-Grau M, Vajda A, Heverin M, Pender N, Al-Chalabi A, Hardiman O, Abrahams S. Measuring reliable change in cognition using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2017; 19:65-73. [PMID: 29214872 PMCID: PMC6510059 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1407794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background: Cognitive impairment affects approximately 50% of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Research has indicated that impairment may worsen with disease progression. The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was designed to measure neuropsychological functioning in ALS, with its alternate forms (ECAS-A, B, and C) allowing for serial assessment over time. Objective: The aim of the present study was to establish reliable change scores for the alternate forms of the ECAS, and to explore practice effects and test-retest reliability of the ECAS’s alternate forms. Method: Eighty healthy participants were recruited, with 57 completing two and 51 completing three assessments. Participants were administered alternate versions of the ECAS serially (A-B-C) at four-month intervals. Intra-class correlation analysis was employed to explore test-retest reliability, while analysis of variance was used to examine the presence of practice effects. Reliable change indices (RCI) and regression-based methods were utilized to establish change scores for the ECAS alternate forms. Results: Test-retest reliability was excellent for ALS Specific, ALS Non-Specific, and ECAS Total scores of the combined ECAS A, B, and C (all > .90). No significant practice effects were observed over the three testing sessions. RCI and regression-based methods produced similar change scores. Conclusion: The alternate forms of the ECAS possess excellent test-retest reliability in a healthy control sample, with no significant practice effects. The use of conservative RCI scores is recommended. Therefore, a change of ≥8, ≥4, and ≥9 for ALS Specific, ALS Non-Specific, and ECAS Total score is required for reliable change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Crockford
- a Department of Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Judith Newton
- a Department of Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Katie Lonergan
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.,e Department of Psychology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Caoifa Madden
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.,e Department of Psychology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Iain Mays
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.,e Department of Psychology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Meabhdh O'Sullivan
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Emmet Costello
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.,e Department of Psychology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Marta Pinto-Grau
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.,e Department of Psychology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Alice Vajda
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Mark Heverin
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Niall Pender
- e Department of Psychology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- f Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience , Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London , London , UK , and
| | - Orla Hardiman
- d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.,g Department of Neurology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- a Department of Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
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Crockford CJ, Kleynhans M, Wilton E, Radakovic R, Newton J, Niven EH, Al-Chalabi A, Hardiman O, Bak TH, Abrahams S. ECAS A-B-C: alternate forms of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2017; 19:57-64. [PMID: 29205065 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1407793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) is a short assessment by which neuropsychological symptoms can be detected and quantified in people with ALS. To avoid potential practice effects with repeated administration, here we present alternative versions of the ECAS suitable for measuring change over time. OBJECTIVE To develop two alternate versions of the ECAS: ECAS-B and ECAS-C. METHOD One hundred and forty-nine healthy adult participants were recruited. Thirty participants completed a pilot study in developing the alternate versions. Two groups of 40 participants were administered the ECAS-B or ECAS-C and compared to published data of the original ECAS (ECAS-A) to determine equivalence. An additional 39 participants were administered the ECAS consecutively, either repeating the original version (ECAS-A-A-A) serially or the different versions (ECAS-A-B-C) to determine potential practice effects. Recordings of assessments were scored by a second researcher to determine inter-rater reliability. RESULTS No significant differences were found between versions (A, B, C) of the composite performance measures of ALS Specific, ALS Non-Specific, and ECAS Total scores. Repeated serial administration of ECAS-A (A-A-A) produced some practice effects for composite scores, whereas no such effects were found when alternate versions were administered serially (A-B-C). Exceptionally high intra-class correlations were found for all three versions of the ECAS suggesting a high degree of rater agreement. CONCLUSION The newly developed alternate forms of the ECAS are both highly equitable to the original ECAS-A and enable avoidance of practice effects, thus supporting their use in measuring cognition and behaviour over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Crockford
- a Department of Psychology , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | | | - Evelyn Wilton
- a Department of Psychology , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Ratko Radakovic
- a Department of Psychology , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,d Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Judith Newton
- a Department of Psychology , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Elaine H Niven
- a Department of Psychology , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- e Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience , Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London , London , UK , and
| | - Orla Hardiman
- f Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Thomas H Bak
- a Department of Psychology , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- a Department of Psychology , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,c Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [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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Affiliation(s)
- Ratko Radakovic
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - John M. Starr
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Leighton D, Manson L, McHutchison C, Sherlock L, Newton J, Abrahams S, Chandran S, Pal S. 11 Premorbid neuropsychiatric disease in patients with motor neurone disease in scotland. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017. [DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-bnpa.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Keller J, Krimly A, Bauer L, Schulenburg S, Böhm S, Aho-Özhan HEA, Uttner I, Gorges M, Kassubek J, Pinkhardt EH, Abrahams S, Ludolph AC, Lulé D. A first approach to a neuropsychological screening tool using eye-tracking for bedside cognitive testing based on the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2017; 18:443-450. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1313869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Keller
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
| | - Amon Krimly
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
| | - Lisa Bauer
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
| | | | - Sarah Böhm
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
| | | | - Ingo Uttner
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
| | - Martin Gorges
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
| | | | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience-PPLS, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, and Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Dorothée Lulé
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany and
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Fernandes PM, Macleod MR, Bateman A, Abrahams S, Pal S. Conjugal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case report from Scotland. BMC Neurol 2017; 17:64. [PMID: 28356084 PMCID: PMC5372255 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-017-0847-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Conjugal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is rare, with significant effects on psychological and care needs. We report a case of conjugal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease from central Scotland. This case is particularly unusual as both patients were diagnosed within an 18-month period and experienced the disease simultaneously, with similar symptomatology and progression. Case presentation Patient A was a 71-year-old man who presented with unilateral arm weakness and wasting. Patient B was a 68-year-old woman who presented with unilateral shoulder and elbow weakness. Diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was made within a few months of presentation in both cases, based on typical clinical symptomatology together with supportive neurophysiological testing. Interventions included enteral feeding and non-invasive ventilation. The time period between symptom onset and death was 5 years for Patient A and 3.5 years for Patient B. Conclusion This case illustrates two main points: the care issues surrounding cases of conjugal neurological disease, and the psychological issues in these patients. There are significant care issues arising when co-habiting couples both develop severe functionally limiting neurological diseases at the same time. The more slowly progressive nature of Patient A’s disease may be at least partially explained by the support he was able to receive from Patient B before she developed symptoms. Secondly, there are important psychological effects of living with someone with the same – but more advanced – progressive and incurable neurological disease. Thus, Patient B was reluctant to have certain interventions that she had observed being given to her husband. Lastly, no plausible shared environmental risk factors were identified, implying that the co-occurrence of ALS in this couple was a random association.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Fernandes
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - M R Macleod
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh & NHS Forth Valley, Edinburgh, UK
| | - A Bateman
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Abrahams
- Psychology - School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, and Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, and Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh & NHS Forth Valley, Edinburgh, UK
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Vajda A, McLaughlin RL, Heverin M, Thorpe O, Abrahams S, Al-Chalabi A, Hardiman O. Genetic testing in ALS: A survey of current practices. Neurology 2017; 88:991-999. [PMID: 28159885 PMCID: PMC5333513 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000003686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the degree of consensus among clinicians on the clinical use of genetic testing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the factors that determine decision-making. METHODS ALS researchers worldwide were invited to participate in a detailed online survey to determine their attitudes and practices relating to genetic testing. RESULTS Responses from 167 clinicians from 21 different countries were analyzed. The majority of respondents (73.3%) do not consider that there is a consensus definition of familial ALS (FALS). Fifty-seven percent consider a family history of frontotemporal dementia and 48.5% the presence of a known ALS genetic mutation as sufficient for a diagnosis of FALS. Most respondents (90.2%) offer genetic testing to patients they define as having FALS and 49.4% to patients with sporadic ALS. Four main genes (SOD1, C9orf72, TARDBP, and FUS) are commonly tested. A total of 55.2% of respondents would seek genetic testing if they had personally received a diagnosis of ALS. Forty-two percent never offer presymptomatic testing to family members of patients with FALS. Responses varied between ALS specialists and nonspecialists and based on the number of new patients seen per year. CONCLUSIONS There is a lack of consensus among clinicians as to the definition of FALS. Substantial variation exists in attitude and practices related to genetic testing of patients and presymptomatic testing of their relatives across geographic regions and between experienced specialists in ALS and nonspecialists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Vajda
- From the Academic Unit of Neurology (A.V., R.L.M., M.H., O.T., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology Centre (S.A.), University of Edinburgh; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (A.A.-C.), King's College London, UK.
| | - Russell L McLaughlin
- From the Academic Unit of Neurology (A.V., R.L.M., M.H., O.T., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology Centre (S.A.), University of Edinburgh; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (A.A.-C.), King's College London, UK
| | - Mark Heverin
- From the Academic Unit of Neurology (A.V., R.L.M., M.H., O.T., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology Centre (S.A.), University of Edinburgh; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (A.A.-C.), King's College London, UK
| | - Owen Thorpe
- From the Academic Unit of Neurology (A.V., R.L.M., M.H., O.T., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology Centre (S.A.), University of Edinburgh; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (A.A.-C.), King's College London, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- From the Academic Unit of Neurology (A.V., R.L.M., M.H., O.T., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology Centre (S.A.), University of Edinburgh; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (A.A.-C.), King's College London, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- From the Academic Unit of Neurology (A.V., R.L.M., M.H., O.T., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology Centre (S.A.), University of Edinburgh; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (A.A.-C.), King's College London, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- From the Academic Unit of Neurology (A.V., R.L.M., M.H., O.T., O.H.), Trinity College Dublin; Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology Centre (S.A.), University of Edinburgh; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (A.A.-C.), King's College London, UK
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