TY - JOUR
T1 - Progression of cognitive and behavioral disturbances in motor neuron diseases assessed using standard and computer-based batteries
AU - Castelnovo, Veronica
AU - Canu, Elisa
AU - Riva, Nilo
AU - Poletti, Barbara
AU - Cividini, Camilla
AU - Fontana, Andrea
AU - Solca, Federica
AU - Silani, Vincenzo
AU - Filippi, Massimo
AU - Agosta, Federica
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 World Federation of Neurology on behalf of the Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Objective: Detecting and monitoring cognitive and behavioral deficits in motor neuron diseases (MND) is critical due to their considerable clinical impact. In this scenario, computer-based batteries may play an important role. In this study, we investigated the progression of cognitive and behavioral deficits in MND patients using both standard and computer-based neuropsychological batteries. Methods: This is a retrospective study on 74 MND patients (52 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS], 12 primary lateral sclerosis [PLS], and 10 progressive muscular atrophy [PMA]) who were followed up for 12 months and underwent up to three cognitive/behavioral assessments, 6 months apart, including standard and/or computerized based (the Test of Attentional Performance [TAP]) batteries. Behavioral/cognitive changes were investigated over time using generalized linear model for longitudinal data accounting for time and revised-ALS Functional Rating Scale. Results: Over 12 months, ALS patients showed a global cognitive decline (Mini Mental State Examination) at the standard battery and reduced performance in the alertness, sustained and divided attention, go/nogo, cross-modal and incompatibility TAP tasks. Most of these findings remained significant when ALSFRS-R changes over time were included as covariate in the analyses. ALS patients did not show significant behavioral abnormalities over time. No cognitive and behavioral changes were found in PLS and PMA cases. Conclusions: Computer-based neuropsychological evaluations are able to identify subtle cognitive changes in ALS, unique to this condition. This study highlights the need of specific, accurate and well-tolerated tools for the monitoring of cognitive deficits in MND.
AB - Objective: Detecting and monitoring cognitive and behavioral deficits in motor neuron diseases (MND) is critical due to their considerable clinical impact. In this scenario, computer-based batteries may play an important role. In this study, we investigated the progression of cognitive and behavioral deficits in MND patients using both standard and computer-based neuropsychological batteries. Methods: This is a retrospective study on 74 MND patients (52 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS], 12 primary lateral sclerosis [PLS], and 10 progressive muscular atrophy [PMA]) who were followed up for 12 months and underwent up to three cognitive/behavioral assessments, 6 months apart, including standard and/or computerized based (the Test of Attentional Performance [TAP]) batteries. Behavioral/cognitive changes were investigated over time using generalized linear model for longitudinal data accounting for time and revised-ALS Functional Rating Scale. Results: Over 12 months, ALS patients showed a global cognitive decline (Mini Mental State Examination) at the standard battery and reduced performance in the alertness, sustained and divided attention, go/nogo, cross-modal and incompatibility TAP tasks. Most of these findings remained significant when ALSFRS-R changes over time were included as covariate in the analyses. ALS patients did not show significant behavioral abnormalities over time. No cognitive and behavioral changes were found in PLS and PMA cases. Conclusions: Computer-based neuropsychological evaluations are able to identify subtle cognitive changes in ALS, unique to this condition. This study highlights the need of specific, accurate and well-tolerated tools for the monitoring of cognitive deficits in MND.
KW - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
KW - cognitive decline
KW - computer-based neuropsychological evaluation
KW - Motor neuron disease
KW - test of attentional performance
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U2 - 10.1080/21678421.2020.1867179
DO - 10.1080/21678421.2020.1867179
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85099696689
JO - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration
JF - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration
SN - 2167-8421
ER -