Writing errors as a result of frontal dysfunction in Japanese patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Abstract
Loss of communication is a critical problem for advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. This loss of communication is mainly caused by severe dysarthria and disability of the dominant hand. However, reports show that about 50% of ALS patients have mild cognitive dysfunction, and there are a considerable number of case reports on Japanese ALS patients with agraphia. To clarify writing disabilities in non-demented ALS patients, eighteen non-demented ALS patients and 16 controls without neurological disorders were examined for frontal cognitive function and writing ability. To assess writing errors statistically, we scored them on their composition ability with the original writing error index (WEI). The ALS and control groups did not differ significantly with regard to age, years of education, or general cognitive level. Two patients could not write a letter because of disability of the dominant hand. The WEI and results of picture arrangement tests indicated significant impairment in the ALS patients. Auditory comprehension (Western Aphasia Battery; WAB IIC) and kanji dictation also showed mild impairment. Patients' writing errors consisted of both syntactic and letter-writing mistakes. Omission, substitution, dis...Continue Reading
References
Citations
The molecular basis of the frontotemporal lobar degeneration-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spectrum.
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Amyloid Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive nervous system disease associated with the death of neurons that control voluntary muscles. Discover the latest research on ALS here.