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Giannotta G, Ruggiero M, De Rinaldis M, Trabacca A. Exploring variability in cognitive functioning in patients with spinal muscular atrophy: a scoping review. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07503-x. [PMID: 38580877 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07503-x] [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: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The cognitive functioning of individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is not well understood, prompting a call for more research to better grasp cognitive involvement in SMA. This study aims to explore recent findings regarding cognitive outcomes in SMA patients, including correlations between clinical features and cognitive abilities. The investigation seeks to identify commonly used measures for assessing cognitive function in this patient population. A scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology examined literature until December 2023. Two databases were searched along with relevant article references using specific terms such as "spinal muscular atrophy," "SMA," "cognitive," "abilities," "functions," "intellective," or "intellectual." Screening focused on titles and abstracts from English language peer-reviewed journals. After the initial research, 1452 articles were identified. Subsequent screening and selection led to the inclusion of 13 articles in the review. Among these studies, four indicated a cognitive trend within the normal range for SMA patients. In four other studies, the majority of patients fell within the normal range. However, smaller proportions were observed to be either above or below the norm compared to the controls. Three studies reported noted cognitive performance below the average, while two showed above-average scores. The scoping review suggests that most SMA patients have cognitive abilities similar to the general population, with types II and III showing even lesser impact. However, certain cognitive domains may be affected in type I patients, highlighting the need for further research to fully understand cognitive involvement in SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Giannotta
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation), Associazione "La Nostra Famiglia" - IRCCS "E. Medea", Scientific Hospital for Neurorehabilitation, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Marta Ruggiero
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation), Associazione "La Nostra Famiglia" - IRCCS "E. Medea", Scientific Hospital for Neurorehabilitation, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Marta De Rinaldis
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation), Associazione "La Nostra Famiglia" - IRCCS "E. Medea", Scientific Hospital for Neurorehabilitation, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Antonio Trabacca
- Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Scientific Direction, Via Don L. Monza 20, 23842, Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy.
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Hu Y, Wei L, Li A, Liu T, Jiang Y, Xie C, Wang K. Cognitive impairment in Chinese adult patients with type III spinal muscular atrophy without disease-modifying treatment. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1226043. [PMID: 38020636 PMCID: PMC10655145 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1226043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. It remains uncertain whether the cognitive performance of adult patients with SMA is impaired. The objective of this study was to assess the cognitive profile of adult Chinese patients with SMA and the association between clinical features and cognitive ability, particularly executive function. Methods This cross-sectional study included 22 untreated adult patients with type III SMA and 20 healthy subjects. The following variables were assessed: general intelligence, memory, attention, language, executive function, depression, anxiety, and other demographic and clinical parameters. In addition, physical function was evaluated using the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE), the Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM), and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Results SMA patients had lower scores than healthy subjects in the Verbal Fluency Test, Stroop effect, Total Errors, Perseverative Responses, Perseverative Errors, and Non-perseverative Errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, showing impaired abilities of SMA patients in executive function. In the Attention Network Test (ANT), the results indicated that the SMA patients also had selective deficits in their executive control networks. Ambulant patients had better executive function test performance than non-ambulant ones. Compromised executive abilities in patients with SMA were correlated with a younger age at onset, poorer motor function, and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusion Our study presented the distribution of cognitive impairment in a Chinese cohort with SMA. Patients with type III SMA showed selective deficits in executive function, which may be associated with disease severity, physical impairment, depression and anxiety. Future cognitive studies, accounting for motor and emotional impairment, are needed to evaluate if executive impairment is driven by specific brain changes or by those confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Ling Wei
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Aonan Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Yubao Jiang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Chengjuan Xie
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
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Vidovic M, Freigang M, Aust E, Linse K, Petzold D, Günther R. Cognitive performance of adult patients with SMA before and after treatment initiation with nusinersen. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:216. [PMID: 37280513 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03261-z] [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: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disease caused by mutations of the SMN1 gene. Deficient SMN protein causes irreversible degeneration of alpha motor neurons characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Considering that SMA is a multi-systemic disorder and SMN protein was found to be expressed in cortical structures, the cognitive profile of adult patients with SMA has recently been of particular interest. With nusinersen, a novel, disease-modifying drug has been established, but its effects on neuropsychological functions have not been validated yet. Aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive profile of adult patients with SMA during treatment initiation with nusinersen and to reveal improvement or deterioration in cognitive performance. METHODS This monocentric longitudinal study included 23 patients with SMA type 2 and 3. All patients were assessed with the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) before and after 14 months of treatment initiation with nusinersen. Additionally, motor function was evaluated by Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE), Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALSFRS-R). RESULTS Of the treatment-naive patients, only three were below the age- and education-matched cut-off for cognitive impairment in the ECAS total score. Significant differences between SMA type 2 and 3 were only detected in the domain of Language. After 14 months of treatment, patients showed significant improvement of absolute scores in all three ALS-specific domains, in the non-ALS-specific domain of Memory, in both subscores and in the ECAS total score. No associations were detected between cognitive and functional outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS In some adult patients with SMA abnormal cognitive performance in ALS-specific functions of the ECAS was evident. However, the presented results suggest no clinically significant cognitive changes during the observed treatment period with nusinersen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Vidovic
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maren Freigang
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elisa Aust
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katharina Linse
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniel Petzold
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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Panda PK, Ramachandran A, Verma PK, Sharawat IK. Behavioral problems in infants and young children with spinal muscular atrophy and their siblings: A cross-sectional study. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2023; 42:47-52. [PMID: 36563465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Older children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have been shown to have more anxiety, depression, and other behavioral problems in a few studies. But no similar studies have been performed in infants and young children with SMA. METHOD Behavioral co-morbidities of young children with SMA were compared with healthy and children with chronic non-neurological illness control group. Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R) and parent-report version of chid behavior checklist (CBCL) were used for infants and preschool-age children respectively. RESULTS A total of 35 SMA children (age at symptom onset-5.9 ± 2.8 months, at enrolment-21.4 ± 7.1 months, 65% boys, 11, 19 and 5 were SMA 1, 2 and 3 respectively) and 24 siblings (38.6 ± 11.2 months, 71% boys) were enrolled. We also enrolled 15 children with nephrotic syndrome as age and gender matched control to SMA children in age-group 2-5 years (27.7 ± 9.1 months, 67% boys). In infants with SMA, the scale scores of IBQ-R were significantly higher for distress to limitation, fear, sadness, and falling reactivity/rate of recovery from distress (p = 0.005; 0.03; 0.001, and 0.04) and lower for soothability as compared to healthy control group (p = 0.04). Similarly, for the three dimensions of temperament computed from these 13 domains, the mean scale score for surgency/extraversion was lower and negative affectivity was higher (p = 0.04 and 0.03), in infants with SMA as compared to healthy controls. For preschool age group, the internalizing problem scores (p = 0.009 and 0.03) and stress problem scores (p = 0.002 and 0.04) were higher in the SMA group, as compared to both the healthy control group and diseased control group. While assessing the syndrome scale scores, the score was higher for emotionally reactive (p = 0.0002 and 0.01) and anxious domains (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002) compared to both healthy and diseased control groups. CONCLUSION Infants and young children with SMA suffer from increased internalizing problems like anxiety, depression and probably their healthy siblings are also at increased levels of stress, depicted by increased somatic complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prateek Kumar Panda
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
| | - Aparna Ramachandran
- Department of Neurology, IQRAA International Hospital and Research Centre, Kozhikode, Kerala, 673009, India
| | - Prashant Kumar Verma
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
| | - Indar Kumar Sharawat
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India.
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Temp AGM, Kasper E, Machts J, Vielhaber S, Teipel S, Hermann A, Prudlo J. Cognitive reserve protects ALS-typical cognitive domains: A longitudinal study. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 9:1212-1223. [PMID: 35866289 PMCID: PMC9380174 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives To determine whether cognitive reserve (CR) as measured by verbal intelligence quotient, educational length, and achievement protects amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients' verbal fluency, executive functioning, and memory against brain volume loss over a period of 12 months. Methods This cohort study was completed between 2013 and 2016 with a follow‐up duration of 12 months. ALS patients were recruited from two specialist out‐patient clinics in Rostock and Magdeburg in Germany. Participants underwent cognitive testing and magnetic resonance imaging both at baseline and again after 12 months. The cognitive domains assessed included verbal memory in addition to executive functions such as verbal fluency, working memory, shifting and selective attention. Results Thirty‐eight ALS patients took part; 25 patients had no cognitive impairment (ALSni), and 13 were cognitively impaired (ALSci). On average, patients lost 294 mm3 in their superior frontal gyri, 225 mm3 in their orbitofrontal gyri, and 15.97 mm3 in their hippocampi over 12 months. There was strong evidence that CR protected letter fluency from further decline (Bayes factor [BF] >10) and moderate evidence that it supported learning effects in letter flexibility (BF >3). However, there is a lack of evidence supporting the notion that working memory, shifting, selective attention or verbal memory (BF = 1) are protected. Discussion As CR is easily determined and protects ALS‐specific cognitive domains over time, it should be regarded as a valuable predictive marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna G M Temp
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany.,Neurozentrum, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kasper
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Judith Machts
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Site Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Vielhaber
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Site Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Teipel
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
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6
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Binz C, Osmanovic A, Thomas NH, Stolte B, Freigang M, Cordts I, Griep R, Uzelac Z, Wurster CD, Kamm C, Siegler HA, Wieselmann G, Hermann A, Lingor P, Deschauer M, Ludolph AC, Meyer T, Günther R, Hagenacker T, Petri S, Schreiber-Katz O. Validity and reliability of the German multidimensional fatigue inventory in spinal muscular atrophy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 9:351-362. [PMID: 35191616 PMCID: PMC8935281 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Fatigue is a common and burdensome symptom of spinal muscular atrophy. Given its complex interactions, different dimensions of fatigue need to be investigated. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory is a widely used instrument that captures five distinct dimensions. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the German Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in spinal muscular atrophy and to evaluate the presence of clinically relevant fatigue. Methods One hundred and forty adult spinal muscular atrophy patients completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in a nationwide, multicenter, cross‐sectional study. Structural validity was explored using principal component analysis. Cronbach’s α was calculated to evaluate internal consistency. Convergent validity was assessed by correlation with a Visual Analog Scale for fatigue and the EuroQol‐Five Dimension‐Five Level Scale as a measure of quality of life. Results The original five‐component model of the questionnaire constituted an acceptable fit. Internal consistency and convergent validity of general, physical, mental fatigue, and reduced activity were good. We observed a floor effect for mental fatigue. While physical fatigue exceeded the cutoff for clinically relevant fatigue, all dimensions but reduced motivation correlated negatively with quality of life. Age, depression, and ≥4 copies of the survival motor neuron 2 gene were associated with higher general/physical fatigue; unemployed participants reported higher scores for reduced activity/motivation. Interpretation The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory is a valid and reliable instrument to assess different dimensions of fatigue in spinal muscular atrophy. Fatigue is a relevant problem in spinal muscular atrophy and its assessment should be incorporated into standard care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Binz
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Alma Osmanovic
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,Essen Center for Rare Diseases (EZSE), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Nele H Thomas
- Department of Biometry, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Benjamin Stolte
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Maren Freigang
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Isabell Cordts
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ramona Griep
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS, SMA and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zeljko Uzelac
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Christoph Kamm
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Hannah A Siegler
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Gary Wieselmann
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - Paul Lingor
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus Deschauer
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS, SMA and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Temp AGM, Kasper E, Vielhaber S, Machts J, Hermann A, Teipel S, Prudlo J. Loss of "insight" into behavioral changes in ALS: Differences across cognitive profiles. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2439. [PMID: 34855301 PMCID: PMC8785632 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Behavioral impairment occurs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and ALS-fronto-temporal dementia (ALS-FTD). It has been proposed that ALS patients without FTD retain an awareness of their behavioral impairment while ALS-FTD patients lose this awareness (referred to as retention vs. loss of "insight"). Loss of insight has not yet been studied across the entire ALS-FTD spectrum; our study addresses this gap by including patients with all the ALS cognitive-behavioral profiles. METHODS Eighty-three ALS patients (and their informants) took part in this bicentric study involving two German recruitment sites. Patients and informants completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale covering the domains of apathy, disinhibition, and executive dysfunctioning. Patients were classified into five groups according to the Strong and Rascovsky criteria: cognitively unimpaired (ALSni), cognitively impaired without dementia (ALSci), behaviorally impaired (ALSbi), a combination of behaviorally and cognitively impaired (ALScbi), and ALS-FTD. We applied Bayesian two-way ANOVA to test whether there were subgroup differences regarding insight into their behavioral decline. RESULTS All patient subgroups experienced behavioral decline (Bayes factor > 3). Only ALS-FTD patients lost insight into disinhibition and executive dysfunctioning. ALSbi patients exhibited worse insight than ALSni and ALSci patients (Bayes factor > 10). Evidence regarding the ALScbi patients was inconclusive. Higher IQ was associated with worse insight (Bayes factor > 3). CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide solid support for the notion that ALS patients without dementia experience behavioral decline regardless of their cognitive-behavioral profile and retain different levels of insight into this decline. The inverse association of premorbid verbal intelligence with insight was unexpected, leaving room for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna G M Temp
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kasper
- Department of Neurology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Stefan Vielhaber
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Judith Machts
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, and Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Stefan Teipel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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8
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Kizina K, Akkaya Y, Jokisch D, Stolte B, Totzeck A, Munoz-Rosales J, Thimm A, Bolz S, Brakemeier S, Pul R, Aslan D, Hackert J, Kleinschnitz C, Hagenacker T. Cognitive Impairment in Adult Patients with 5q-Associated Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11091184. [PMID: 34573206 PMCID: PMC8471736 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In previous studies, a below-average, average, or above-average intelligence quotient (IQ) in children with SMA was detected but, aside from a severe physical disability, the cognitive performance of adult SMA patients has not yet been evaluated. The intelligence test used in this study, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, fourth edition (WAIS-IV), was used to measure major intelligence components of adult SMA patients. The WAIS-IV determines four index scores representing verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. Due to time-dependent demands on motor function, the processing speed index score was excluded. IQ index scores of 33 adult SMA patients did not differ from IQ index scores of the normal population. In SMA type-3 patients, the index scores for verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, and working memory did not differ from the normal population but showed a trend of IQ scores towards lower points. Patients with SMA type 2 had lower IQ index scores for working memory (90.33 ± 12.95; p = 0.012) and perceptual reasoning (90.73 ± 12.58; p = 0.013) than the normal population. This study provided further evidence that SMA is a multi-systemic disease and may refute the widespread hypothesis that SMA patients might improve their cognitive skills to compensate for their physical impairment.
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9
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Temp AGM, Prudlo J, Vielhaber S, Machts J, Hermann A, Teipel SJ, Kasper E. Cognitive reserve and regional brain volume in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cortex 2021; 139:240-248. [PMID: 33892294 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated whether cognitive reserve measured by education and premorbid IQ allows amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients to compensate for regional brain volume loss. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study. We recruited sixty patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from two specialist out-patient clinics. All participants underwent neuropsychological assessment; the outcomes were standardized z-scores reflecting verbal fluency, executive functions (shifting, planning, working memory), verbal memory and visuo-constructive ability. The predictor was regional brain volume. The moderating proxies of cognitive reserve were premorbid IQ (estimated by vocabulary) and educational years. We hypothesized that higher cognitive reserve would correlate with better performance on a cognitive test battery, and tested this hypothesis with Bayesian analysis of covariance. RESULTS The analyses provided moderate to very strong evidence in favor of our hypothesis with regard to verbal fluency functions, working memory, verbal learning and recognition, and visuo-constructive ability (all BF01 > 3): higher cognitive reserve was associated with a mild increase in performance. For shifting and planning ability, the evidence was anecdotal. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that cognitive reserve moderates the effect of brain morphology on cognition in ALS. Patients draw small but meaningful benefits from higher reserve, preserving fluency, memory and visuo-constructive functions. Executive functions presented a dissociation: verbally assessed functions benefitted from cognitive reserve, non-verbally assessed functions did not. This motivates future research into cognitive reserve in ALS and practical implications, such as strengthening reserve to delay decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna G M Temp
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany.
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany; Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Stefan Vielhaber
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Judith Machts
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Andreas Hermann
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany; Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Stefan J Teipel
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Elisabeth Kasper
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany; Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
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