Social Cognition in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Social cognition, including theory of mind, empathy, social perception, and behavior, is crucial for interpersonal relationships and social functioning. Impairments in social cognition have also been recognized in neurodegenerative disorders including frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. This review defines social cognition components, summarizes assessment tools, and evaluates their clinical applicability in these disorders. Despite research, the incorporation of social cognition assessments into clinical practice remains limited. Developing standardized, validated tools and integrating them with current, conventional neuropsychological assessments is crucial for improving the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of neurodegenerative disorders. Emerging interventions targeting specific social cognitive domains or their neural systems hold promise in enhancing the social functioning and quality of life of affected individuals.