Relation of neuropsychological and magnetic resonance findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Evidence for subgroups

B. Frank, J. Haas, H. J. Heinze, E. Stark, T. F. Münte*

*Corresponding author for this work
    79 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The relationship between neuropsychological impairments and changes in cranial MR images was investigated in a group of 74 consecutive patients with the sporadic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neuropsychological tests included measures of frontal lobe function, memory, intelligence, and attention. Compared with a control group, a significant impairment of the ALS group emerged for the areas of visual attention, inhibition of response alternatives, visual memory, and word generation. These neuropsychological impairments did not show a relation to clinical status of the patients. Likewise, MR parameters derived by computer assisted planimetric analysis showed a ventricular enlargement and parenchymal atrophy in the ALS group compared with age-matched controls. When ALS patients were assigned to two subgroups differing on the basis of the neuropsychological tests by cluster-analysis the cluster with the significant impairment also showed a pronounced change for the MR-parameters while the subgroup showed essentially normal neuropsychological performance. This pattern suggests that subgroups of ALS with differential impairment of neuropsycholigcal functions can be defined.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalClinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
    Volume99
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)79-86
    Number of pages8
    ISSN0303-8467
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 01.01.1997

    Research Areas and Centers

    • Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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