Executive Functions and Cognition in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

NATALIA SIERRA; ALBERTO DUBROVSKY; ANA GAMBA; TERESA TORRALVA; MARÍA ROCA; FACUNDO MANES

Toronto

Encuentro; 62nd AAN 2010 Annual Meeting; 2010

American Academy of Neurology

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the performance of patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) on a specific Executive and Social Cognition Battery (ESCB). BACKGROUND: Besides the well established motor impairments associated with ALS, research on this pathology is now gearing towards its understanding as part of the umbrella of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Being able to detect otherwise unnoticed cognitive impairments in this disease is essential to contribute to the differential diagnosis of ALS. DESIGN/METHODS: Nine patients diagnosed with early ALS and nine healthy controls were assessed using a classical executive battery (CEB) and an ESCB which was recently validated by our group, including tasks of social cognition, decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task, IGT), and the Hotel task. RESULTS: On the CEB, significant differences were observed between ALS and controls only on the forward digit span (p < .05). However, on the ESCB, significant differences were observed on all tasks, including the number of tasks completed on the Hotel Task (p < .05) as well as optimal time allocation for each task (p < .05). On the IGT, significant differences were found on block 5 and total IGT net score (both, p < .01). No significant correlations were found between digit span scores and ESCB performance. CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: The preliminary results of this study reveal that subtle executive deficits are present even in the early stages of ALS.