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Author(s): Massimiliano Conson [sup.1] [sup.2] , Chiara Baiano [sup.1] , Isa Zappullo [sup.1] , Rosa Milo [sup.1] , Luigi Trojano [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.9841.4, 0000 0001 2200 8888, Department [...]

In two studies, we used the Gottschaldt's Hidden Figure Test (GHFT) for assessing figure disembedding ability in children aged 7-11. Study 1 demonstrated in a large sample of typically developing children that GHFT accuracy and time scores differed across age groups, without sex and socioeconomic differences. Thus, we provided normative data only taking into account children's age. In Study 2, GHFT normative values were used to assess children with autism, who were also compared with a closely age-matched group of typical controls. Children with autism achieved time scores at or above the 50th centile and significantly differed from the controls for time score. The GHFT seems a valuable tool for defining the cognitive profile of children with autism.

In two studies, we used the Gottschaldt's Hidden Figure Test (GHFT) for assessing figure disembedding ability in children aged 7-11. Study 1 demonstrated in a large sample of typically developing children that GHFT accuracy and time scores differed across age groups, without sex and socioeconomic differences. Thus, we provided normative data only taking into account children's age. In Study 2, GHFT normative values were used to assess children with autism, who were also compared with a closely age-matched group of typical controls. Children with autism achieved time scores at or above the 50th centile and significantly differed from the controls for time score. The GHFT seems a valuable tool for defining the cognitive profile of children with autism., Author(s): Massimiliano Conson [sup.1] [sup.6] , Mattia Siciliano [sup.1] [sup.2] , Luigi Trojano [sup.1] , Pierluigi Zoccolotti [sup.3] [sup.4] , Isa Zappullo [sup.1] , Chiara Baiano [sup.1] , Giovanni Caputo [...]

Objectives: Endovascular thrombectomy has demonstrated a major therapeutic improvement in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The benefit of endovascular thrombectomy is commonly reported by determining the functional outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). There is a lack of knowledge concerning the quality of life (QoL) and factors impacting the QoL after endovascular thrombectomy. The aim of this study was to assess the QoL of stroke survivors who underwent endovascular thrombectomy and to determine the variables associated with QoL. Methods: Prospective single‐center analysis of 98 patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy between 2015 and 2019. QoL was assessed by using the Rand 36‐Item Health Survey (RAND‐36), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Stroke Impact Scale‐16 (SIS‐16), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaires. Results: Of the 98 patients, 53 (54.1%) reported poor QoL. According to the logistic regression analysis, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score > 6 on the first postprocedural day, right hemispheric infarction, and depression were independently associated with poor QoL. Depression was reported by 40.8% of all the respondents. QoL scores of the patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy were impaired in physical functioning, physical and emotional role functioning, social functioning, and general health compared to the age‐adjusted values of the Finnish general population. Conclusion: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT)‐treated stroke survivors experience disability in multiple levels. More than half of the patients report poor QoL. Neurological disability, functional dependence, depression, and comorbidities are associated with poor QoL. Social capability is impaired and the difficulties are more distinct among individuals with age above 65 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD) is a genetic sphingolipidosis involving virtually the entire body. Among its manifestation, the involvement of the central and peripheral nervous system is frequent. In recent decades, it has become evident that, besides cerebrovascular damage, a pure neuronal phenotype of AFD exists in the central nervous system, which is supported by clinical, pathological, and neuroimaging data. This neurodegenerative phenotype is often clinically characterized by an extrapyramidal component similar to the one seen in prodromal Parkinson's disease (PD). We analyzed the biological, clinical pathological, and neuroimaging data supporting this phenotype recently proposed in the literature. Moreover, we compared the neurodegenerative PD phenotype of AFD with a classical monogenic vascular disease responsible for vascular parkinsonism and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). A substantial difference in the clinical and neuroimaging features of neurodegenerative and vascular parkinsonism phenotypes emerged, with AFD being potentially responsible for both forms of the extrapyramidal involvement, and CADASIL mainly associated with the vascular subtype. The available studies share some limitations regarding both patients' information and neurological and genetic investigations. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential association between AFD and extrapyramidal manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity to take another person's visual perspective is pivotal for solving mindreading tests, such as Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks, but most of them heavily rely on domain-general abilities (e.g., language, executive functions). Here we present a novel battery of visual perspective-taking tests for child neuropsychological assessment, the Perspective Battery (PERBAT), which poses a limited load on domain-general abilities. The battery includes four tests: i) Block Building; ii) Hide and Seek; iii) Deceptive Figures; iv) Double-Sided Shelf. We administered the PERBAT to 126 typically developing preschoolers (65 males; 3-6-year-old); the participants also performed classical tests of social cognition, language, and nonverbal abstract reasoning. The scores of all the PERBAT tests were significantly and positively related with age and scores of the classical social cognition tests, but not with scores of the language and nonverbal abstract reasoning tests. The PERBAT could represent a useful neuropsychological tool providing a comprehensive assessment of visual perspective-taking skills in preschool children. Future investigation is needed to examine the validity of the PERBAT with neurotypical samples across countries, race, ethnicity, and language as well as with clinical populations. Longitudinal studies are also encouraged to examine whether early visual perspective-taking weaknesses are associated with later development of mindreading skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]