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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills
Published on: February 13, 2020
Frontotemporal-spectrum disorders and functional independence in non-demented ALS patients
Edoardo Nicolò Aiello1, Federica Solca1, Silvia Torre1
1Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy.
Background:
The present study aimed at determining whether, net of motor confounders, neuropsychological features affect functional independence (FI) in activities of daily living (ADLs) in non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.
Methods:
N = 88 ALS patients without frontotemporal dementia were assessed for FI-Katz's Basic ADL Scale (BADL) and Lawton-Brody's Instrumental ADL Scale (IADL)-, cognition-Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS)-and behaviour-Beaumont Behavioural Inventory and Dimensional Apathy Scale. The association between cognitive and behavioural measures and BADL/IADL scores was assessed by covarying for demographics, anxiety and depression levels, disease duration and motor confounders-i.e. ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) scores, progression rate and both King's and Milano-Torino stages.
Results:
Higher scores on the ECAS-Language were associated with higher IADL scores (p = 0.005), whilst higher apathetic features-as measured by the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS)-were inversely related to the BADL (p = 0.003). Whilst IADL scores were related to all ECAS-Language tasks, the DAS-Initiation was the only subscale associated with BADL scores. Patients with abnormal ECAS-Language (p = 0.023) and DAS (p = 0.008) scores were more functionally dependent than those without.
Discussion:
Among non-motor features, language changes and apathetic features detrimentally affect FI in non-demented ALS patients.
