Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The goal of this study was to identify neurostructural frontal lobe correlates of cognitive and speaking rate changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 17 patients diagnosed with ALS and 12 matched controls underwent clinical, bulbar, and neuropsychological assessment and structural neuroimagi...

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Main Authors: Yana Yunusova, Jamal Ansari, Joel Ramirez, Sanjana Shellikeri, Greg J. Stanisz, Sandra E. Black, Susan M. Gillingham, Alex Kiss, Donald T. Stuss, Lorne Zinman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Behavioural Neurology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9518309
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author Yana Yunusova
Jamal Ansari
Joel Ramirez
Sanjana Shellikeri
Greg J. Stanisz
Sandra E. Black
Susan M. Gillingham
Alex Kiss
Donald T. Stuss
Lorne Zinman
author_facet Yana Yunusova
Jamal Ansari
Joel Ramirez
Sanjana Shellikeri
Greg J. Stanisz
Sandra E. Black
Susan M. Gillingham
Alex Kiss
Donald T. Stuss
Lorne Zinman
author_sort Yana Yunusova
collection DOAJ
description The goal of this study was to identify neurostructural frontal lobe correlates of cognitive and speaking rate changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 17 patients diagnosed with ALS and 12 matched controls underwent clinical, bulbar, and neuropsychological assessment and structural neuroimaging. Neuropsychological testing was performed via a novel computerized frontal battery (ALS-CFB), based on a validated theoretical model of frontal lobe functions, and focused on testing energization, executive function, emotion processing, theory of mind, and behavioral inhibition via antisaccades. The measure of speaking rate represented bulbar motor changes. Neuroanatomical assessment was performed using volumetric analyses focused on frontal lobe regions, postcentral gyrus, and occipital lobes as controls. Partial least square regressions (PLS) were used to predict behavioral (cognitive and speech rate) outcomes using volumetric measures. The data supported the overall hypothesis that distinct behavioral changes in cognition and speaking rate in ALS were related to specific regional neurostructural brain changes. These changes did not support a notion of a general dysexecutive syndrome in ALS. The observed specificity of behavior-brain changes can begin to provide a framework for subtyping of ALS. The data also support a more integrative framework for clinical assessment of frontal lobe functioning in ALS, which requires both behavioral testing and neuroimaging.
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spelling doaj-art-afb63b9d36b84fa88f5da4def7205aea2025-08-20T02:19:07ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85842019-01-01201910.1155/2019/95183099518309Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisYana Yunusova0Jamal Ansari1Joel Ramirez2Sanjana Shellikeri3Greg J. Stanisz4Sandra E. Black5Susan M. Gillingham6Alex Kiss7Donald T. Stuss8Lorne Zinman9University of Toronto, Department of Speech Language Pathology, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Toronto, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, Department of Speech Language Pathology, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Toronto, CanadaSunnybrook Research Institute, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Toronto, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, Department of Speech Language Pathology, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Toronto, CanadaSunnybrook Research Institute, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Toronto, CanadaSunnybrook Research Institute, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Toronto, CanadaRotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, CanadaSunnybrook Research Institute, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Toronto, CanadaSunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University of Toronto, Department of Medicine, Neurology, Toronto, CanadaSunnybrook Research Institute, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Toronto, CanadaThe goal of this study was to identify neurostructural frontal lobe correlates of cognitive and speaking rate changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 17 patients diagnosed with ALS and 12 matched controls underwent clinical, bulbar, and neuropsychological assessment and structural neuroimaging. Neuropsychological testing was performed via a novel computerized frontal battery (ALS-CFB), based on a validated theoretical model of frontal lobe functions, and focused on testing energization, executive function, emotion processing, theory of mind, and behavioral inhibition via antisaccades. The measure of speaking rate represented bulbar motor changes. Neuroanatomical assessment was performed using volumetric analyses focused on frontal lobe regions, postcentral gyrus, and occipital lobes as controls. Partial least square regressions (PLS) were used to predict behavioral (cognitive and speech rate) outcomes using volumetric measures. The data supported the overall hypothesis that distinct behavioral changes in cognition and speaking rate in ALS were related to specific regional neurostructural brain changes. These changes did not support a notion of a general dysexecutive syndrome in ALS. The observed specificity of behavior-brain changes can begin to provide a framework for subtyping of ALS. The data also support a more integrative framework for clinical assessment of frontal lobe functioning in ALS, which requires both behavioral testing and neuroimaging.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9518309
spellingShingle Yana Yunusova
Jamal Ansari
Joel Ramirez
Sanjana Shellikeri
Greg J. Stanisz
Sandra E. Black
Susan M. Gillingham
Alex Kiss
Donald T. Stuss
Lorne Zinman
Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Behavioural Neurology
title Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
title_full Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
title_fullStr Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
title_short Frontal Anatomical Correlates of Cognitive and Speech Motor Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
title_sort frontal anatomical correlates of cognitive and speech motor deficits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9518309
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