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A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Published on: February 21, 2011
Is language impairment more common than executive dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
Lorna J Taylor1, Richard G Brown, Stella Tsermentseli
1King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychology, London, UK.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|October 4, 2012
Summary
Language impairments are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), affecting 43% of patients. These deficits are linked to executive functioning, but not fully explained by them, indicating cognitive heterogeneity in ALS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Systematic studies on language abilities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are scarce, especially concerning broader cognitive changes.
- Cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized in ALS, but its specific profiles require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of language impairments in patients with ALS.
- To examine the relationship between language abilities and executive functioning in ALS.
- To explore the heterogeneity of cognitive profiles in non-demented ALS patients.
Main Methods:
- Neuropsychological assessments were conducted on 51 ALS patients and 35 healthy controls.
- Composite scores for language and executive functioning were calculated.
- Impairment was defined as scores at or below the 5th percentile compared to controls.
Main Results:
- Patients with ALS showed impairments in both language (43%) and executive functioning (31%).
- Language and executive composite scores were significantly correlated in the ALS group (r=0.68, p<0.001).
- Executive functioning accounted for 44% of the variance in language composite scores.
Conclusions:
- Language impairments are as prevalent as executive dysfunction in ALS.
- While associated, executive dysfunction does not fully explain language impairments, underscoring cognitive heterogeneity in ALS.
- These findings highlight the need for comprehensive cognitive assessments in ALS management.
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