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Phonemic Verbal Fluency and Midbrain Atrophy in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Antonina Luca1, Alessandra Nicoletti1, Giulia Donzuso1
1Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Tecnologie Avanzate "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|March 15, 2021
Summary
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients show significant executive dysfunction, particularly in phonemic verbal fluency. This impairment is strongly linked to midbrain atrophy, highlighting a key relationship in PSP neurodegeneration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is primarily characterized by executive dysfunction.
- The precise relationship between executive dysfunction and midbrain atrophy in PSP remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the most frequently impaired executive function test in PSP patients.
- To investigate the correlation between midbrain morphometric MRI measures and executive dysfunction in PSP.
Main Methods:
- Neuropsychological assessment of PSP patients using tests like FAB, verbal fluency, Raven's Progressive Colored Matrix, and Stroop test.
- Comparison with a matched group of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- Volumetric T1-3D brain MRI analysis for both groups.
Main Results:
- PSP patients exhibited significantly greater impairment in phonemic verbal fluency and lower scores on the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) compared to PD patients.
- PSP patients showed significantly smaller midbrain areas than PD patients.
- A significant positive correlation was found between verbal fluency and midbrain area in PSP patients.
Conclusions:
- Phonemic verbal fluency is a highly sensitive indicator of executive dysfunction in PSP.
- Midbrain atrophy is a significant factor associated with executive dysfunction, specifically verbal fluency deficits, in PSP.
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