1
|
Didcote L, Vitoratou S, Al-Chalabi A, Goldstein LH. What is the extent of reliability and validity evidence for screening tools for cognitive and behavioral change in people with ALS? A systematic review. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38415696 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2024.2314063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Objective: This systematic review provides an updated summary of the existing literature on the validity of screening tools for cognitive and behavioral impairment in people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (pwALS), and also focuses on their reliability. Method: The following cognitive and behavioral screening tools were assessed in this review: the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS); the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS), the Mini Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (Mini-ACE), the Beaumont Behavioral Interview (BBI); the MND Behavior Scale (MiND-B); and the ALS-FTD Questionnaire (ALS-FTD-Q). A search, using Medline, PsychINFO and Embase (21/09/2023), generated 37 results after exclusion criteria were applied. Evidence of internal consistency, item-total correlations, inter-rater reliability, clinical validity, convergent validity, and structural validity were extracted and assessed and risk of bias was evaluated. Results: The cognitive component of the ECAS was the tool with most evidence of reliability and validity for the assessment of cognitive impairment in ALS. It is well-suited to accommodate physical symptoms of ALS. For behavioral assessment, the BBI or ALS-FTD-Q had the most evidence of reliability and validity. The BBI is more thorough, but the ALS-FTD-Q is briefer. Conclusions: There is good but limited evidence for the reliability and validity of cognitive and behavioral screens. Further evidence of clinical and convergent validity would increase confidence in their clinical and research use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsay Didcote
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Silia Vitoratou
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK, and
- Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Laura H Goldstein
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aiello EN, Solca F, Greco LC, Torre S, Carelli L, Morelli C, Doretti A, Colombo E, Messina S, Pain D, Radici A, Lizio A, Casiraghi J, Cerri F, Woolley S, Murphy J, Tremolizzo L, Appollonio I, Verde F, Sansone VA, Lunetta C, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Poletti B. Equating norms between the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS™) and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) in non-demented ALS patients. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11749-4. [PMID: 37147520 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11749-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aimed at deriving equating norms to estimate scores on the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) based on those on the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS™) in an Italian cohort of non-demented ALS patients. METHODS ALS-CBS™ and ECAS scores of 293 ALS patients without frontotemporal dementia were retrospectively retrieved. Concurrent validity of the ALS-CBS™ towards the ECAS was tested by covarying for demographics, disease duration and severity, presence of C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion and behavioural features. A linear-smoothing equipercentile equating (LSEE) model was employed to derive ALS-CBS™-to-ECAS cross-walks. Gaps in LSEE-based estimation were managed via a linear regression-based equating approach. Equivalence between empirical and derived ECAS scores was tested via a two-one-sided test (TOST) procedure for the dependent sample. RESULTS The ALS-CBS™ predicted the ECAS (β = 0.75), accounting for the vast majority of its variance (60% out of an R2 = 0.71). Consistently, a strong, one-to-one linear association between ALS-CBS™ and ECAS scores was detected (r = 0.84; R2 = 0.73). The LSEE was able to estimate conversions for the full range of the ALS-CBS™, except for raw scores equal to 1 and 6 - for whom a linear equating-based equation was derived. Empirical ECAS scores were equivalent to those derived with both methods. DISCUSSION Italian practitioners and researchers have been herewith provided with valid, straightforward cross-walks to estimate the ECAS based on ALS-CBS™ scores in non-demented ALS patients. Conversions herewith provided will help avoid cross-sectional/longitudinal inconsistencies in test adoption within research, and possibly clinical, settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Lucia Catherine Greco
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
- NeMO Lab, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Laura Carelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Debora Pain
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Radici
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Lizio
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo Casiraghi
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cerri
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Ada Sansone
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, 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, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Aiello EN, Greco LC, La Tona A, Solca F, Torre S, Carelli L, Pain D, Radici A, Lizio A, Casiraghi J, Cerri F, Brugnera A, Compare A, Woolley S, Murphy J, Tremolizzo L, Appollonio I, Verde F, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Lunetta C, Sansone VA, Poletti B. Clinimetrics of the cognitive section of the Italian ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS™). Neurol Sci 2023; 44:1243-1249. [PMID: 36547779 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06569-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aimed at (1) providing further validity and reliability evidence for the Italian version of the cognitive section of the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS™) and (2) testing its diagnostics within an Italian ALS cohort, as well as at (3) exploring its capability to discriminate patients from healthy controls (HCs). METHODS N = 293 non-demented ALS patients were administered the cognitive sections of the ALS-CBS™ and Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). N = 96 HCs demographically matched with N = 96 patients were also administered the cognitive section of the ALS-CBS™. In patients, factorial and construct validity, internal reliability, and diagnostics against a defective score on the cognitive section of the ECAS were tested. Case-control discrimination was assessed via a logistic regression. RESULTS ALS-CBS™ cognitive subscales were underpinned by a simple, unidimensional structure, internally reliable (McDonald's ω = 0.74), and mostly related with ECAS executive and fluency scores (rs = 0.54-0.71). Both raw and age- and education-adjusted scores on the cognitive section of the ALS-CBS™ accurately detected ECAS-defined cognitive impairment (AUC = 0.80 and .88, respectively), yielding optimal error-based, information-based and unitary diagnostics. A cut-off of < 15.374 was identified on adjusted scores. The test was able to discriminate patients from HCs (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION The cognitive section of the Italian ALS-CBS™ is a valid, reliable, and diagnostically sound ALS-specific screener for detecting frontotemporal, executive-/attentive-based cognitive inefficiency in non-demented ALS patients, being also able to discriminate them from normotypical individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Lucia Catherine Greco
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
- NeMO Lab, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonino La Tona
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Carelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Debora Pain
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Radici
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Lizio
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo Casiraghi
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cerri
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Agostino Brugnera
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Angelo Compare
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | | | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, 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, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, 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, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Ada Sansone
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aiello EN, Solca F, Greco LC, La Tona A, Torre S, Carelli L, Morelli C, Doretti A, Colombo E, Messina S, Pain D, Radici A, Lizio A, Casiraghi J, Cerri F, Brugnera A, Compare A, Woolley S, Murphy J, Tremolizzo L, Appollonio I, Verde F, Sansone VA, Lunetta C, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Poletti B. Standardization of the Italian ALS-CBS™ Caregiver Behavioral Questionnaire. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1107001. [PMID: 36743632 PMCID: PMC9896625 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1107001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The present investigation aimed at testing the psychometrics and diagnostics of the Italian version of the Caregiver Behavioral Questionnaire (CBQ) from the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS™), as well as its case-control discrimination, in a cohort of non-demented patients with ALS. Methods The caregivers of N = 265 non-demented patients with ALS and N = 99 healthy controls (HCs) were administered the CBQ and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen-Carer Interview (ECAS-CI). For N = 98 patients, an in-depth behavioural/psychopathological assessment via the Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI), the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS), the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y (STAI-Y), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was also available. Factorial and construct validity, internal reliability, and diagnostics against an abnormal ECAS-CI score were tested in patients. Case-control discrimination was explored through logistic regression. Results The CBQ was internally reliable (McDonald's ω = 0.90) and underpinned by a simple, unidimensional structure; it converged with ECAS-CI, FBI, and DAS scores and diverged from STAI-Y and BDI ones. A cutoff of ≤ 33 accurately detected abnormal ECAS-CI scores (AUC = 0.85), yielding optimal error- and information-based diagnostics. The CBQ was independent of demographic and disease-related variables and discriminated patients from HCs (p < 0.001). Discussion The Italian version of the CBQ from the ALS-CBS™ is a valid, reliable, diagnostically sound, and feasible screener for detecting frontotemporal-like behavioural changes in non-demented patients with ALS. Its adoption is thus recommended within clinical practice and research in the view of providing preliminary information on whether the administration of more extensive behavioural instruments is needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Catherine Greco
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy,NeMO Lab, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonino La Tona
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Carelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Debora Pain
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Department of Neurorehabilitation of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Radici
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Department of Neurorehabilitation of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Lizio
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo Casiraghi
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cerri
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Agostino Brugnera
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Angelo Compare
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | | | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 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
| | - Valeria Ada Sansone
- Neuromuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy,Department of Biomedical Sciences of Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Department of Neurorehabilitation of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,*Correspondence: Barbara Poletti, ; orcid.org/0000-0003-4398-2051
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Aiello EN, Gramegna C, Esposito A, Gazzaniga V, Zago S, Difonzo T, Maddaluno O, Appollonio I, Bolognini N. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): updated norms and psychometric insights into adaptive testing from healthy individuals in Northern Italy. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:375-382. [PMID: 34313961 PMCID: PMC8847194 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-01943-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background The availability of fine-grained, culture-specific psychometric outcomes can favor the interpretation of scores of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the most frequently used instrument to screen for mild cognitive dysfunctions in both instrumental and non-instrumental domains. This study thus aimed at providing: (i) updated, region-specific norms for the Italian MoCA, by also (ii) comparing them to pre-existing ones with higher geographical coverage; (iii) information on sensitivity and discriminative capability at the item level. Methods Five hundred and seventy nine healthy individuals from Northern Italy (208 males, 371 females; age: 63.4 ± 15, 21–96; education: 11.3 ± 4.6, 1–25) were administered the MoCA. Item Response Theory (IRT) was adopted to assess item difficulty and discrimination. Normative values were derived by means of the Equivalent Scores (ESs) method, applied to the MoCA and its sub-scales. Average ESs were also computed. Agreement with previous ESs classification was assessed via Cohen’s k. Results Age and education significantly predicted all MoCA measures except for Orientation, which was related to age only. No sex differences were detected when tested along with age and education. Substantial disagreements with previous ESs classifications were detected. Several items proved to be scarcely sensitive, especially the place item from Orientation and the letter detection task. Memory items showed high discriminative capability, along with certain items assessing executive functions and orientation. Discussion Item-level information herewith provided for the Italian MoCA can help interpret its scores by Italian practitioners. Italian practitioners should consider an adaptive use of region-specific norms for the MoCA.
Collapse
|
6
|
Aiello EN, Esposito A, Gramegna C, Gazzaniga V, Zago S, Difonzo T, Appollonio IM, Bolognini N. The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and its sub-scales: validation and updated normative data in an Italian population sample. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:979-984. [PMID: 34184168 PMCID: PMC8789707 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05392-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits of executive functioning (EF) are frequently found in neurological disorders. The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is one of the most widespread and psychometrically robust EF screeners in clinical settings. However, in Italy, FAB norms date back to 15 years ago; moreover, its validity against "EF-loaded" global cognitive screeners (e.g., the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) has yet to be tested. This study thus aimed at (a) providing updated normative data for the Italian FAB and (b) assessing its convergent validity with the MoCA. METHODS Four-hundred and seventy-five healthy Italian native speakers (306 females, 169 males; mean age: 61.08 ± 15.1; mean education: 11.67 ± 4.57) were administered by the MoCA and the FAB. FAB items were divided into three subscales: FAB-1 (linguistically mediated EF), FAB-2 (planning), and FAB-3 (inhibition). Regression-based norms were derived (equivalent scores) for all FAB measures. RESULTS Age and education were predictive of all FAB measures, whereas no gender differences were detected. The FAB and its sub-scales were related to MoCA measures-the strongest associations being found with MoCA total and MoCA-EF scores. FAB sub-scales were both internally related and associated with FAB total scores. DISCUSSION The FAB proved to have convergent validity with both global cognitive and EF measures in healthy individuals. The present study provides updated normative data for the FAB and its sub-scales in an Italian population sample, and thus supports an adaptive usage of this EF screener.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Clinical Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Gramegna
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Zago
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Milan, Italy
| | - Teresa Difonzo
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ildebrando Marco Appollonio
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Milan, Italy
- Neurology Section, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Milan, Italy
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
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] [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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Aiello EN, Rimoldi S, Bolognini N, Appollonio I, Arcara G. Psychometrics and diagnostics of Italian cognitive screening tests: a systematic review. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:821-845. [PMID: 34816316 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05683-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive screening tests (CSTs) are crucial to neuropsychological diagnostics, and thus need to be featured by robust psychometric and diagnostic properties. However, CSTs happen not to meet desirable statistical standards, negatively affecting their level of recommendations and applicability. This study aimed at (a) providing an up-to-date compendium of available CSTs in Italy, (b) report their psychometric and diagnostic properties, and (c) address related limitations. METHODS This review was implemented by consulting Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and pre-registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. Standardization and usability studies focusing on norms, validity, reliability, or sensitivity/specificity (and derived metrics) in adults were considered for eligibility. Quality assessment was performed by means of an ad hoc checklist collecting information on sampling, psychometrics/diagnostics, norming, and feasibility. RESULTS Sixty studies were included out of an initial N = 683. Identified CSTs (N = 40) were classified into general, domain-, and disease-specific (N = 17, 7, and 16, respectively), the latter being less statistically robust than remaining categories. Validity and reliability evidence was provided for 29 and 26 CSTs, respectively, sensitivity/specificity for 20 and norms for 33. Prevalence- and post-test-based diagnostic metrics were seldomly represented; factorial structures, ceiling/floor effects, and acceptability rarely investigated; content, face, and ecological validity never assessed. DISCUSSION Although available Italian CSTs overall met basic psychometric/diagnostic requirements, their statistical profile often proved to be poor on several properties that are desirable for clinical applications, with a few exceptions among general and domain-specific ones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
| | - Sara Rimoldi
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.,Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Ildebrando Appollonio
- Neurology Section, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pain D, Aiello EN, Gallucci M, Miglioretti M, Mora G. The Italian Version of the ALS Depression Inventory-12. Front Neurol 2021; 12:723776. [PMID: 34630298 PMCID: PMC8497880 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.723776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Depression is a comorbidity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, its diagnosis is challenged by the co-occurrence of a similar frontotemporal (FT) behavioral symptom—i.e., apathy. Moreover, its psychometric evaluation is confounded by motor disabilities. This study aimed at investigating psychometric properties and feasibility of the ALS Depression Inventory (ADI-12), a self-report questionnaire set up for this issue—as measuring mood changes without referring to movement. Methods: Eighty-five ALS patients were administered the ADI-12 and underwent cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE), quality of life (McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, MQoL) and further anxiety/mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) assessments. Reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the ADI-12 were explored. Results: Principal component analyses revealed two related components—“Negative Mood and Lack of Energy” (ME) and “Anhedonia” (A). Both components and the inventory as a whole were internally consistent and highly related to HADS-D. ADI-12-total score was also associated with HADS-A. ADI-12 measures were inversely related to MQoL. ADI-12-total/sub-scales were not related to either MMSE or disease-related outcomes. Estimates of depression yielded by HADS-D and ADI-12 were 11.1 and 35.3%. Discussion: The ADI-12 is a valid, reliable and usable feasibile tool to assess depression in Italian ALS patients independently from motor disabilities. Its interplay with psycho-social outcomes is in agreement with previous studies. The lack of association with cognition suggests that the ADI-12 is partially independent from FT spectrum disorders. The disagreement in depression rates between the ADI-12 and HADS-D suggests the need to ALS-specific mood scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debora Pain
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milano Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,PhD Program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marcello Gallucci
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Mora
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department of Milano Institute, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Aiello EN, Esposito A, Giannone I, Diana L, Woolley S, Murphy J, Christodoulou G, Tremolizzo L, Bolognini N, Appollonio I. ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen-Phone Version (ALS-CBS™-PhV): norms, psychometrics, and diagnostics in an Italian population sample. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:2571-2578. [PMID: 34601697 PMCID: PMC8487338 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05636-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Up to 50% of motor neuron disease (MND) patients show neuropsychological deficits which negatively affect prognosis and care. However, disability-related logistical issues and uneven geographical coverage of healthcare services may prevent MND patients from accessing neuropsychological evaluations. This study thus aimed to standardize for the Italian population the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen-Phone Version (ALS-CBS™-PhV), an MND-specific, telephone-based screening for frontotemporal dysfunction. METHODS The cognitive section of the ALS-CBS™-PhV, the Italian telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (Itel-MMSE), and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) was administered to 359 healthy individuals (143 males, 216 females; age, 52.7 ± 15.8; education, 13.1 ± 4.4). Norms were derived through equivalent scores. Validity, factorial structure, reliability, diagnostic accuracy, and item difficulty and discrimination were examined. Statistical equivalence between the telephone-based and in-person versions was tested. RESULTS ALS-CBS™-PhV measures were predicted by age and education. The ALS-CBS™-PhV reflected a mono-component structure, converged with Itel-MMSE and TICS scores (rs = .23-.51) and was equivalent to its in-person format (t = .37; p = .72). Good internal (Cronbach's α = .61), test-retest (ICC = .69), and inter-rater (ICC = .96) reliability was detected. High accuracy was found when tested against both the Itel-MMSE and the TICS (AUC = .82-89). Backward digit span items were the most discriminative. DISCUSSION The ALS-CBS™-PhV is a statistically solid screening test for frontotemporal disorders featuring MND. Its standardization allows for (1) improvements in tele-healthcare for MND patients, (2) epidemiological applications, and (3) effective assessments in decentralized clinical trials. The ALS-CBS™-PhV can be also suitable for assessing bedridden and visually impaired patients with motor disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
| | | | - Ilaria Giannone
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Diana
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Susan Woolley
- Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Georgia Christodoulou
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Neurology Section, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ildebrando Appollonio
- Neurology Section, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
A preliminary comparison between ECAS and ALS-CBS in classifying cognitive-behavioural phenotypes in a cohort of non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. J Neurol 2021; 269:1899-1904. [PMID: 34410493 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10753-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
To define the presence and type of frontotemporal dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), different screening tools have been created. Currently, the most used screening tests are the Edinburgh cognitive and behavioural ALS screen (ECAS) and the ALS cognitive behavioural screen (ALS-CBS). The objective of this study was to compare the ability of ECAS and ALS-CBS in classifying non-demented ALS patients according to Strong criteria. One-hundred and fifty-four in- and out-patients with an age > 18 and a definite or probable ALS diagnosis were recruited between September 2019 and February 2020 at NeMO Clinical Centre and at Istituto Auxologico Italiano in Milan and underwent the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) and the ALS Cognitive Behavioural Screen (ALS-CBS). Exclusion criteria involved patients with a diagnosis of FTD, with a severe cognitive deterioration and/or an important behavioural impairment, with a significant psychiatric disorder or with the co-presence of another significant illness. The distribution of patients according to Strong criteria was different for ECAS and ALS-CBS and the degree of agreement between the two tests in terms of Cohen's Kappa coefficient resulted equal to 0.2047 with a 95% confidence limits interval between 0.1122 and 0.2973. This study for the first time compares the ability of ECAS and ALS-CBS in stratifying ALS patients. Further studies will be conducted to better understand the reasons underlying the differences between these two tests in classifying the different subtypes of fronto-temporal dysfunction in ALS.
Collapse
|
12
|
Petrović J, Švabić T, Zidverc-Trajković J, Stanarčević P, Jovanović D, Mijajlović M. Cerebral venous thrombosis: a retrospective unicentric analysis of clinical and neuroimaging characteristics. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:1839-1847. [PMID: 34347215 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05514-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Thrombosis of dural sinuses and/or cerebral veins (CVT) is an uncommon form of stroke, usually affecting young individuals. It has a variable clinical presentation ranging from mild cases presenting only headaches, to severe cases featuring encephalopathy, coma or status epilepticus. A retrospective cross-sectional study of patients treated in the outpatient department and in-hospital during the period from 2014 to 2020 at the Neurology Clinic-University Clinical Centre of Serbia was conducted. Forty-nine patients (24 men; 25 women) were included in the study. Twenty-three patients (46.9%) suffered a subacute form of CVT (48 h-4 weeks), 19 (38.8%) presented with an acute form (< 48 h) and 7 (14.3%) with a chronic form (> 4 weeks). Around 75% of patients reported headaches during disease course. Focal neurological deficit (FND) was observed in 27 (55.1%) patients. Patients who did not report headaches (22.4%) presented with more severe symptoms (seizures and coma). More than 70% of patients had no radiologically evident brain parenchymal lesion. The most frequent locations of CVT were transverse sinus (79.6%), sigmoid sinus (44.9%) and superior sagittal sinus (36.7%). Thrombosis of more than one sinus/vein occurred in 33 (67.3%) patients. Hereditary thrombophilia was observed in 9 (18.4%) patients, 11 (22.4%) patients had some type of infection and 20% of women reported OCT usage. As much as 25% of cases remained without evident risk factors. The most common symptom in our cohort was acute unilateral throbbing headache of high intensity, while patients without headaches had more severe symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jovan Petrović
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tamara Švabić
- Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jasna Zidverc-Trajković
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Dejana Jovanović
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milija Mijajlović
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. .,Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Compensating for verbal-motor deficits in neuropsychological assessment in movement disorders: sensitivity and specificity of the ECAS in Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Neurol Sci 2021; 42:4997-5006. [PMID: 33728549 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05169-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The study aims at investigating psychometric properties of the Edinburgh cognitive and behavioural ALS screen (ECAS) in Parkinson's (PD) and Huntington's (HD) diseases. The sensitivity and specificity of the ECAS in highlighting HD and PD cognitive-behavioural features and in differentiating between these two populations and from healthy controls (HC) were evaluated. Moreover, correlations between the ECAS and traditional cognitive measures, together with core clinical features, were analysed. METHODS Seventy-three PD patients, 38 HD patients, and 49 education-matched healthy participants were enrolled. Participants were administered the ECAS, together with other cognitive screening tools and psychological questionnaires. Patients' behavioural assessment was also carried out with carers. RESULTS The ECAS distinguished between HD patients and HC and between the two clinical syndromes with high sensitivity and specificity. Even if the diagnostic accuracy of the ECAS in distinguishing between PD and HC was low, the PD cognitive phenotype was very well described by the ECAS performances. Convergent validity of the ECAS against other traditional cognitive screening was observed, as well as correlations with psychological aspects and typical clinical features, especially for the HD group. CONCLUSIONS The ECAS represents a rapid and feasible tool, useful also in other neurodegenerative disorders affecting verbal-motor abilities than the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis such as PD and HD. Clinical applications in these neurodegenerative conditions require further investigations and, probably, some adaptations of the original test.
Collapse
|
14
|
Impaired pain processing and its association with attention disturbance in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurol Sci 2021; 42:3327-3335. [PMID: 33398509 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-020-05028-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive dysfunction characterized by executive dysfunction and persistent attention function has been reported in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); however, it is unclear if this contributes to the pain processing deficits associated with the disease. OBJECTIVE We clarified the relationship between pain processing and both cognitive function and sensory symptoms in patients with ALS. METHODS We enrolled 23 patients with ALS and 14 healthy control subjects. We examined pain-related somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) using an intra-epidermal needle electrode. We evaluated cognitive function and the clinical characteristics of sensation and analyzed their relationships with pain-related SEPs. RESULTS Pain-related SEP amplitudes were significantly lower, while the rate of amplitude attenuation due to habituation or change in attention was significantly greater in patients with ALS than in control subjects. There were no significant differences in pain-related SEP parameters between patients with or without sensory symptoms. Instead, pain-related SEP amplitude and its rate of attenuation were correlated with cognitive dysfunction, particularly with attention domains. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that attention deficit, but not sensory nerve involvement, is a major cause of the alterations in pain-related SEP in patients with ALS.
Collapse
|
15
|
Chipika RH, Siah WF, McKenna MC, Li Hi Shing S, Hardiman O, Bede P. The presymptomatic phase of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: are we merely scratching the surface? J Neurol 2020; 268:4607-4629. [PMID: 33130950 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10289-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Presymptomatic studies in ALS have consistently captured considerable disease burden long before symptom manifestation and contributed important academic insights. With the emergence of genotype-specific therapies, however, there is a pressing need to address practical objectives such as the estimation of age of symptom onset, phenotypic prediction, informing the optimal timing of pharmacological intervention, and identifying a core panel of biomarkers which may detect response to therapy. Existing presymptomatic studies in ALS have adopted striking different study designs, relied on a variety of control groups, used divergent imaging and electrophysiology methods, and focused on different genotypes and demographic groups. We have performed a systematic review of existing presymptomatic studies in ALS to identify common themes, stereotyped shortcomings, and key learning points for future studies. Existing presymptomatic studies in ALS often suffer from sample size limitations, lack of disease controls and rarely follow their cohort until symptom manifestation. As the characterisation of presymptomatic processes in ALS serves a multitude of academic and clinical purposes, the careful review of existing studies offers important lessons for future initiatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rangariroyashe H Chipika
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - We Fong Siah
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Clare McKenna
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stacey Li Hi Shing
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ikenaga C, Findlay AR, Seiffert M, Peck A, Peck N, Johnson NE, Statland JM, Weihl CC. Phenotypic diversity in an international Cure VCP Disease registry. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2020; 15:267. [PMID: 32993728 PMCID: PMC7523394 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-020-01551-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dominant mutations in valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene cause an adult onset inclusion body myopathy, Paget’s disease of bone, and frontotemporal dementia also termed multisystem proteinopathy (MSP). The genotype-phenotype relationships in VCP-related MSP are still being defined; in order to understand this better, we investigated the phenotypic diversity and patterns of weakness in the Cure VCP Disease Patient Registry. Methods Cure VCP Disease, Inc. was founded in 2018 for the purpose of connecting patients with VCP gene mutations and researchers to help advance treatments and cures. Cure VCP Disease Patient Registry is maintained by Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford. The results of two questionnaires with a 5-point Likert scale questions regarding to patients’ disease onset, symptoms, and daily life were obtained from 59 participants (28 males and 31 females) between June 2018 and May 2020. Independent of the registry, 22 patients were examined at the Cure VCP Disease annual patient conference in 2019. Results In the questionnaires of the registry, fifty-three patients (90%) reported that they were with inclusion body myopathy, 17 patients (29%) with Paget’s disease of bone, eight patients (14%) with dementia, two patients (3%) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and a patient with parkinsonism. Thirteen patients (22%) reported dysphagia and 25 patients (42%) reported dyspnea on exertion. A self-reported functional rating scale for motor function identified challenges with sit to stand (72%), walking (67%), and climbing stairs (85%). Thirty-five (59%) patients in the registry answered that their quality of life is more than good. As for the weakness pattern of the 22 patients who were evaluated at the Cure VCP Disease annual conference, 50% of patients had facial weakness, 55% had scapular winging, 68% had upper proximal weakness, 41% had upper distal weakness, 77% had lower proximal, and 64% had lower distal weakness. Conclusions The Cure VCP Disease Patient Registry is useful for deepening the understanding of patient daily life, which would be a basis to develop appropriate clinical outcome measures. The registry data is consistent with previous studies evaluating VCP patients in the clinical setting. Patient advocacy groups are essential in developing and maintaining disease registries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiseko Ikenaga
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Box 8111, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Andrew R Findlay
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Box 8111, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michelle Seiffert
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Box 8111, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | | | | | - Nicholas E Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Statland
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas, Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Conrad C Weihl
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Box 8111, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Taule T, Søvik M, Lein RK, Wehling E, Aßmus J, Rekand T. Psychometric Properties of Cognitive Assessment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. PATIENT-RELATED OUTCOME MEASURES 2020; 11:181-194. [PMID: 33061727 PMCID: PMC7519807 DOI: 10.2147/prom.s256828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Purpose We aimed to list all tests used to assess cognitive change in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to provide a descriptive synthesis of the psychometric properties of tests that were evaluated in a population of ALS patients. Materials and Methods The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42017055603). We systematically search for literature in 11 databases. Full-text articles, in any language, with original research were included. All included articles were scrutinised by two independent authors. Disagreement was resolved by consensus. The framework of Lezak informed conceptualises of the tests identified. To evaluate methodological quality, we used the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). Data were synthesised using criteria proposed by the Cochrane Back Review Group. Results Of 319 included articles, 46 articles reported information on the psychometric properties of cognitive tests used in patients with ALS. We found that the highest level of evidence was supported for the Reading the Mind in the Eye Test (RME), Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Evaluation (ACE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Moderate level of evidence was found for the screening tests; Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Conclusion The screening test, ECAS and the social cognition test, RME, may have some advantages over other tests that have been used for assessing cognitive change in ALS patients. Recommendations of ALS-specific tests with sound psychometric properties are urgently needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Taule
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Haukeland University Hospital (HUH), Bergen, Norway
| | - Margaret Søvik
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Eike Wehling
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, HUH, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, UiB, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jörg Aßmus
- Centre for Clinical Research, HUH, Bergen, Norway
| | - Tiina Rekand
- Department of Neurology, HUH, Bergen, Norway.,Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|