Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Executive dysfunction predicts social cognition impairment in amyotropic lateral sclerosis

Watermeyer, Tamlyn J., Brown, Richard G., Sidle, Katie C.L., Oliver, David J., Allen, Christopher, Karlsson, Joanna, Ellis, Catherine M., Shaw, Christopher E., Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Goldstein, Laura H. and others. (2015) Executive dysfunction predicts social cognition impairment in amyotropic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, 262 (7). pp. 1681-1690. ISSN 0340-5354. (doi:10.1007/s00415-015-7761-0) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:55723)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7761-0

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the motor system with recognised extra-motor and cognitive involvement. This cross-sectional study examined ALS patients' performance on measures requiring social inference, and determined the relationship between such changes and variations in mood, behaviour, personality, empathy and executive function. Fifty-five ALS patients and 49 healthy controls were compared on tasks measuring social cognition and executive function. ALS patients also completed measures examining mood, behaviour and personality. Regression analyses explored the contribution of executive function, mood, behaviour and personality to social cognition scores within the ALS sample. A between-group MANOVA revealed that, the ALS group was impaired relative to controls on two composite scores for social cognition and executive function. Patients also performed worse on individual tests of executive function measuring cognitive flexibility, response inhibition and concept formation, and on individual aspects of social cognition assessing the attribution of emotional and mental states. Regression analyses indicated that ALS-related executive dysfunction was the main predictor of social cognition performance, above and beyond demographic variables, behaviour, mood and personality. On at least some aspects of social cognition, impaired performance in ALS appears to be secondary to executive dysfunction. The profile of cognitive impairment in ALS supports a cognitive continuum between ALS and frontotemporal dementia.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s00415-015-7761-0
Uncontrolled keywords: Motor neuron disease, Executive function, Social cognition, Dementia
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Jo Ruffels
Date Deposited: 31 May 2016 13:41 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 11:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/55723 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Oliver, David J..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.