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Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most perplexing of all brain conditions due to its persistent and severe psychotic manifestations with variable cognitive dysfunction. The pathophysiology of schizophrenia being unknown, the fact that brain circuits are involved and the areas frequently affected being the limbic system, forebrain, and the hindbrain becomes a fertile area for exploration. Aim: The aim was to study the frontal lobe alterations in patients of schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional, analytical, and comparative study was done in a tertiary care medical college and research center. Forty patients of schizophrenia with 40 age‑ and sex‑matched healthy individuals were included in the study after informed consent and an institutional ethical clearance. Self‑made demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Stroop test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were applied to all the subjects. Results: A significant difference in cognitive impairment was found in patients as compared to controls, seen by a poor performance of patients in FAB and WCST along with a higher Stroop effect. Duration of illness, family history of psychiatric illness, number of episodes, and comorbid substance use were found to be positive predictors of higher cognitive impairment. Conclusion: There is a significant level of frontal lobe dysfunction seen in patients of schizophrenia on Stroop test, FAB, and WCST. Family history of psychiatric illness and substance use, especially tobacco, are the factors worsening cognitive dysfunction, while education plays a protective role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are still underdiagnosed in the general population. Impaired odor identification has been identified as an early marker of MCI and dementia. We aim to investigate whether short tasks, in which simple forms must be assembled from single building blocks based on a template or while considering specific re-strictions, could increase the diagnostic quality of established cognitive screening tests in detecting MCI or dementia. (2) Methods: A brief assembly test, where participants had to assemble simple animal shapes from Lego® Duplo® building blocks, the Frontal Assessment Battery, and the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) were administered to a consecutive series of 197 patients (89 with mild dementia, 62 with mild cognitive impairment, and 46 without cognitive impairment) referred for neuropsychological testing. (3) Results: Both participants with dementia and with MCI performed badly in the assembly tasks. The assembly tasks and the Frontal Assessment Battery were substantially correlated. Complementing MMSE scores with the assembly tasks improved the diagnostic accuracy of individuals with dementia and MCI. (4) Conclusions: People with suspected dementia or MCI may already benefit from simple assembly tasks. Although these tests require little additional time, they can notably increase sensitivity for dementia or MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive impairment is a major concern in clinical medicine. It is usually evaluated with neuropsychological assessments, which have inherent limitations. To compensate for them, magnetoencephalography has already come into clinical use to evaluate the level of cognitive impairment. It evaluates global changes in the frequency of resting‐state brain activity, which are associated with cognitive status. However, it remains unclear what neural mechanism causes the frequency changes. To understand this, it is important to identify cortical regions that mainly contribute to these changes. We retrospectively analysed the clinical records from 310 individuals with cognitive impairment who visited the outpatient department at our hospital. The analysis included resting‐state magnetoencephalography, neuropsychological assessment, and clinical diagnosis data. Regional oscillatory intensities were estimated from the magnetoencephalography data, which were statistically analysed, along with neuropsychological assessment scores, and the severity of cognitive impairment associated with clinical diagnosis. The regional oscillatory intensity covering a wide range of regions and frequencies was significantly associated with neuropsychological assessment scores and differed between healthy individuals and patients with cognitive impairment. However, these associations and differences in all conditions were overlapped by a single change in beta frequency in the left supramarginal gyrus. High frequency oscillatory intensity in the left supramarginal gyrus is associated with cognitive impairment levels among patients who were concerned about dementia. It provides new insights into cognitive status measurements using magnetoencephalography, which is expected to develop as an objective index to be used alongside traditional neuropsychological assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most perplexing of all brain conditions due to its persistent and severe psychotic manifestations with variable cognitive dysfunction. The pathophysiology of schizophrenia being unknown, the fact that brain circuits are involved and the areas frequently affected being the limbic system, forebrain, and the hindbrain becomes a fertile area for exploration. Aim: The aim was to study the frontal lobe alterations in patients of schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, analytical, and comparative study was done in a tertiary care medical college and research center. Forty patients of schizophrenia with 40 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included in the study after informed consent and an institutional ethical clearance. Self-made demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Stroop test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were applied to all the subjects. Results: A significant difference in cognitive impairment was found in patients as compared to controls, seen by a poor performance of patients in FAB and WCST along with a higher Stroop effect. Duration of illness, family history of psychiatric illness, number of episodes, and comorbid substance use were found to be positive predictors of higher cognitive impairment. Conclusion: There is a significant level of frontal lobe dysfunction seen in patients of schizophrenia on Stroop test, FAB, and WCST. Family history of psychiatric illness and substance use, especially tobacco, are the factors worsening cognitive dysfunction, while education plays a protective role.

Background: Maintaining cognitive and physical function is essential to healthy aging. Aim: This study aims to investigate the effect of an exercise–cognitive dual-task program in Chinese language on cognitive function and functional fitness in older adults. Methods: Seventy adults aged 60–84 years were conveniently assigned to one of the three groups: exercise–cognitive dual-task (EC) group (n = 28), exercise group (n = 22), and control group (n = 20). The EC group received a 90-min class including multicomponent exercise–cognitive dual-task twice a week. The exercise group received a 90-min class including multicomponent exercise twice a week. The control group maintained their regular level of physical activity and general lifestyle. Cognitive functions and functional fitness were measured before and after the 12-week intervention. Results: The participants in the EC and exercise group significantly improved scores in Taiwanese Frontal Assessment Battery, the Chang Gung University Orthographical Fluency Test, and the Mini-Mental State Examination; however, those in the control group did not. The participants in the EC and exercise group showed significant increases in almost all functional fitness tests. The participants in the EC group showed significantly higher improvements in Chang Gung University Orthographical Fluency Test score and aerobic endurance than the exercise group and in Chang Gung University Orthographical Fluency Test score and lower body strength than the control group. In addition, the changes in Taiwanese Frontal Assessment Battery and Mini-Mental State Examination scores were significantly correlated with the changes in functional fitness. Conclusion: The dual-task intervention resulted in greater improvements in verbal fluency, endurance, and muscular strength than exercise alone and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a clinical entity that encompasses all types of cognitive impairment following an index stroke. Yoga has been proven to have a beneficial effect not only on cardiovascular risk factors but also on cognition. Hence, this study explored the PSCI spectrum and assessed the effect of yoga on PSCI. Methods: Forty stroke patients were enrolled in each yoga and control arm in this study. After the baseline assessment, control arm was administered standard care (including physiotherapy) while yoga arm received additional yoga intervention. Change in MoCA scores by 2 points in either direction, or FAB scale by 2 points at 6 months was taken as primary outcome, whereas improvement in MRS, CDPSS, CBS, and P300 values were considered as secondary outcomes. Results: Significant improvements were observed in MoCA, FAB, MRS, CPDSS, and CBS scores in both groups after 6 months. However, intergroup comparisons revealed better MoCA (25.5, IQR 22-27) and FAB scores (15.5, IQR 14-17) in yoga group compared to controls (24, IQR20-25.75) and (14, IQR12-15.75). Equivalent improvement was observed in MRS and CBS scores in both groups at 6 months; however, CDPSS score was better in yoga group (p = 0.0008). Both P300 amplitudes and latencies improved in all patients and median P300 amplitudes were significantly better in control group; however, no difference could be appreciated in P300 latencies improvement on intergroup comparisons at follow-up. Conclusion: Study reveals that early yoga intervention in stroke survivors leads to better improvement in cognitive abilities which would further facilitate in early reduction of caregiver burden.

Background: This study aimed at assessing the cross-sectional and longitudinal clinimetrics and feasibility of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Methods: N = 109 PD patients underwent the FAB and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). A subsample of patients further underwent a thorough motor, functional and behavioral evaluation (the last including measures of anxiety, depression and apathy). A further subsample was administered a second-level cognitive battery tapping on attention, executive functioning, language, memory, praxis and visuo-spatial abilities. The following properties of the FAB were tested: (1) concurrent validity and diagnostics against the MoCA; (2) convergent validity against the second-level cognitive battery; (4) association with motor, functional and behavioral measures; (5) capability to discriminate patients from healthy controls (HCs; N = 96); (6) assessing its test–retest reliability, susceptibility to practice effects and predictive validity against the MoCA, as well as deriving reliable change indices (RCIs) for it, at a ≈ 6-month interval, within a subsample of patients (N = 33). Results: The FAB predicted MoCA scores at both T0 and T1, converged with the vast majority of second-level cognitive measures and was associated with functional independence and apathy. It accurately identified cognitive impairment (i.e., a below-cut-off MoCA score) in patients, also discriminating patients from HCs. The FAB was reliable at retest and free of practice effects; RCIs were derived according to a standardized regression-based approach. Discussion: The FAB is a clinimetrically sound and feasible screener for detecting dysexecutive-based cognitive impairment in non-demented PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understated executive dysfunction (UED) is predictive of cognitive decline and death. We aimed to assess the prevalence of UED, assessed with the clock-drawing test (CDT) and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in middle-aged adults and to investigate associated characteristics. Cross-sectional analysis of data on 516 community-dwellers aged 50-65, lacking cognitive complaints, who were included prospectively (2010-2017) after a multidimensional geriatric assessment at a "healthy ageing" outpatient clinic. Age- and educational-level-adjusted logistic models were used to assess factors associated with UED. The CDT and FAB were impaired in 27.7% and 14.7% of the participants (median age: 59.7 years). The prevalence [95% confidence interval (CI)] of UED was 36.2% [32.2-40.5%]. After adjustment for age and education, participants with UED were more likely to be obese (odds ratio [95%CI] = 1.89 [1.12-3.19], P = 0.02), and to have a metabolic syndrome (1.98 [1.06-3.72], P = 0.03). More than one third of middle-aged adults without cognitive complaints have UED, which was linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Cognitive screening tests targeting executive functions might be useful for early detection of UED and the initiation of multidomain interventions improving cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Monotherapy with monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors enhances the level of endogenous dopamine in treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) and provides some benefits. Certain neuropsychiatric functions are also regulated by central dopaminergic activity.Aim: To investigate the relationship of the efficacy of monotherapy with MAO-B inhibitors on motor symptoms in PD with baseline cognitive function.Patients and Methods: Outcomes were examined for 27 consecutive drug-naïve PD patients who received initial treatment with a MAO-B inhibitor (selegiline: 11, rasagiline: 16). Selegiline was titrated to an optimal dose. The dose of rasagiline was fixed at 1 mg/day. Motor symptoms were assessed using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III before treatment and after the efficacy reached a plateau within 19 weeks after drug initiation, and the % improvement in motor symptoms was calculated. Pre-treatment cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Correlations of % improvement in motor symptoms and baseline cognitive assessments were examined using Spearman correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis.Results: In all patients, the mean % improvement in motor symptoms was 46.5% (range 0-83.3%). Spearman correlation coefficients showed the % improvement in motor symptoms was correlated with FAB (r = 0.631, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis with patient background factors as independent variables, only FAB was associated with improvement in motor symptoms in the MAO-B group.Conclusion: Better FAB scores predict a significant improvement in motor symptoms with treatment with MAO-B inhibitors, suggesting high activity of endogenous dopamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic properties of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in non-demented ALS patients by addressing the Edinburgh Cognitive Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) as the gold standard, as well as by examining the association between its administrability and scores with motor-functional measures. Materials: N = 348 consecutive patients were administered the ECAS and FAB. Disease severity (ALSFRS-R), duration, progression rate (ΔFS), and stages (via King's and Milano-Torino systems) were considered. Administrability rates and prevalence of below-cut-off FAB scores were compared across clinical stages; regression models allowed to test whether, net of the ECAS-Total, motor features predicted the probability of the FAB not being administrable and of a defective FAB score. Intrinsic and post-test diagnostics were explored against a combined defective ECAS-Executive and ECAS-Fluency scores. Results: 85.3% of patients managed to complete the FAB. FAB administrability rates decreased with advanced clinical stages, whereas the prevalence of below-cut-off FAB scores did not. The probability of the FAB not being administrable was predicted only by lower ALSFRS-R-bulbar and ALSFRS-R-upper-limb scores; no motor features, but the ECAS-Total, predicted a below-cut-off performance on the FAB. Raw and adjusted FAB scores showed high accuracy (AUC =.85 and.81, respectively) and good intrinsic and post-test properties. Discussion: The FAB is featured by optimal diagnostics for detecting executive deficits in ALS, provided that it can be administered according to its original, standardized procedure, and thus that patients have sufficiently spared motor abilities to complete the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a clinical entity that encompasses all types of cognitive impairment following an index stroke. Yoga has been proven to have a beneficial effect not only on cardiovascular risk factors but also on cognition. Hence, this study explored the PSCI spectrum and assessed the effect of yoga on PSCI. Methods: Forty stroke patients were enrolled in each yoga and control arm in this study. After the baseline assessment, control arm was administered standard care (including physiotherapy) while yoga arm received additional yoga intervention. Change in MoCA scores by 2 points in either direction, or FAB scale by 2 points at 6 months was taken as primary outcome, whereas improvement in MRS, CDPSS, CBS, and P300 values were considered as secondary outcomes. Results: Significant improvements were observed in MoCA, FAB, MRS, CPDSS, and CBS scores in both groups after 6 months. However, intergroup comparisons revealed better MoCA (25.5, IQR 22-27) and FAB scores (15.5, IQR 14-17) in yoga group compared to controls (24, IQR20-25.75) and (14, IQR12-15.75). Equivalent improvement was observed in MRS and CBS scores in both groups at 6 months; however, CDPSS score was better in yoga group (p = 0.0008). Both P300 amplitudes and latencies improved in all patients and median P300 amplitudes were significantly better in control group; however, no difference could be appreciated in P300 latencies improvement on intergroup comparisons at follow-up. Conclusion: Study reveals that early yoga intervention in stroke survivors leads to better improvement in cognitive abilities which would further facilitate in early reduction of caregiver burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are still underdiagnosed in the general population. Impaired odor identification has been identified as an early marker of MCI and dementia. We aim to investigate whether short tasks, in which simple forms must be assembled from single building blocks based on a template or while considering specific re-strictions, could increase the diagnostic quality of established cognitive screening tests in detecting MCI or dementia. (2) Methods: A brief assembly test, where participants had to assemble simple animal shapes from Lego® Duplo® building blocks, the Frontal Assessment Battery, and the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) were administered to a consecutive series of 197 patients (89 with mild dementia, 62 with mild cognitive impairment, and 46 without cognitive impairment) referred for neuropsychological testing. (3) Results: Both participants with dementia and with MCI performed badly in the assembly tasks. The assembly tasks and the Frontal Assessment Battery were substantially correlated. Complementing MMSE scores with the assembly tasks improved the diagnostic accuracy of individuals with dementia and MCI. (4) Conclusions: People with suspected dementia or MCI may already benefit from simple assembly tasks. Although these tests require little additional time, they can notably increase sensitivity for dementia or MCI.

Background: This study aimed at testing the ability of the frontal assessment battery (FAB) to differentiate between patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as well as comparing its discriminative power to that of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Methods: The present retrospective cohort included N = 107 Aβ-positive patients diagnosed with either MCI due to AD (N = 40) or probable AD dementia (ADD; N = 67). A two-step multiple logistic regression (MLR) was run to predict an MCI vs. ADD diagnosis based on FAB scores. Within the baseline step, demographics, disease duration, MMSE scores, and information on cognitive phenotypes were entered, with the FAB being added within the second step. Receiver-operating characteristics analyses were also run to derive intrinsic and post-test diagnostics. Results: Within the baseline MLR step, only lower MMSE scores predicted the occurrence of ADD; by adding the FAB, which likewise was able to discriminate between MCI and ADD (p = 0.016), a significant increase in model fit was detected (p = 0.007). The diagnostic efficiency of the FAB (AUC = 0.85) was comparable (p = 0.583) to that of the MMSE (AUC = 0.82), also yielding good intrinsic and post-test diagnostics, which were comparable to those of the MMSE. Discussion: The FAB is a diagnostically sound screener to discriminate between MCI and ADD, independently of patients’ overall cognitive profile. In doing so, the FAB is comparable to the MMSE, and the complementation of the latter with the former is advisable in order to increase the accuracy in differentiating between MCI and ADD within screening sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThis study aimed at assessing the diagnostic properties of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) as to its capability to (1) discriminate healthy controls (HCs) from patients with Huntington’s disease (HD) and (2) identify cognitive impairment in this population.MaterialsThirty-eight consecutive HD patients were compared to 73 HCs on the FAB. Patients further underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analyses were run to assess both intrinsic—i.e., sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp), and post-test diagnostics, positive and negative predictive values (PPV; NPV) and likelihood ratios (LR+; LR–), of the FAB both in a case–control setting and to identify, within the patient cohort, cognitive impairment (operationalized as a below-cut-off MoCA score). In patients, its diagnostic accuracy was also compared to that of the cognitive section of the UHDRS (UHDRS-II).ResultsThe FAB and UHDRS-II were completed by 100 and 89.5% of patients, respectively. The FAB showed optimal case–control discrimination accuracy (AUC = 0.86–0.88) and diagnostic properties (Se = 0.68–0.74; Sp = 0.88–0.9; PPV = 0.74–0.8; NPV = 0.84–0.87; LR+ = 5.6–7.68; LR– = 0.36–0.29), performing even better (AUC = 0.9–0.91) at identifying cognitive impairment among patients (Se = 0.73–1; Sp = 0.86–0.71; PPV = 0.79–0.71; NPV = 0.82–1; LR+ =5.13–3.5; LR– = 0.31–0) and comparably to the UHDRS-II (89% vs. 85% of accuracy, respectively; p = 0.46).DiscussionIn HD patients, the FAB is highly feasible for cognitive screening aims, being also featured by optimal intrinsic/post-test diagnostics within both case-control and case-finding settings.

BackgroundThis study aimed at testing the ability of the frontal assessment battery (FAB) to differentiate between patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as well as comparing its discriminative power to that of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).MethodsThe present retrospective cohort included N = 107 Aβ-positive patients diagnosed with either MCI due to AD (N = 40) or probable AD dementia (ADD; N = 67). A two-step multiple logistic regression (MLR) was run to predict an MCI vs. ADD diagnosis based on FAB scores. Within the baseline step, demographics, disease duration, MMSE scores, and information on cognitive phenotypes were entered, with the FAB being added within the second step. Receiver-operating characteristics analyses were also run to derive intrinsic and post-test diagnostics.ResultsWithin the baseline MLR step, only lower MMSE scores predicted the occurrence of ADD; by adding the FAB, which likewise was able to discriminate between MCI and ADD (p = 0.016), a significant increase in model fit was detected (p = 0.007). The diagnostic efficiency of the FAB (AUC = 0.85) was comparable (p = 0.583) to that of the MMSE (AUC = 0.82), also yielding good intrinsic and post-test diagnostics, which were comparable to those of the MMSE.DiscussionThe FAB is a diagnostically sound screener to discriminate between MCI and ADD, independently of patients’ overall cognitive profile. In doing so, the FAB is comparable to the MMSE, and the complementation of the latter with the former is advisable in order to increase the accuracy in differentiating between MCI and ADD within screening sessions.

Background: The increasing number of dementia patients has become a global social problem. Amino acids are known to be used as precursors of neurotransmitters in the brain. Amino acid mixtures as a supplement may be used as a solution to Alzheimer's symptoms. This exploratory study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a mixture containing nine essential amino acids on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Design: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the intervention effects of nine essential amino acid mixture for 28 days. A total of 36 patients with AD were enrolled in Japan. BPSD and cognitive function were evaluated by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-12 item (NPI-12; the primary endpoint), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail Making Test A (TMT-A), Trail Making Test B (TMT-B), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR).Results: Compared with placebo, the amino acid mixture did not improve NPI-12, MMSE, TMT-A and B or CDR scores. However, the analysis of covariance revealed improved FAB scores in the amino acid mixture group as a secondary endpoint. There were four subjects with adverse events in each group.Conclusions: Our results did not show a beneficial effect of the mixture containing nine essential amino acids on BPSD as a primary endpoint; however, it may improve executive function in patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term outcomes of cognitive function in moyamoya disease remain unknown. We aimed to assess 5-year changes in cognitive function in adult moyamoya disease patients and to evaluate the value of the magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) steno-occlusive score to predict cognitive changes. Participants comprised 20 consecutive patients whose cognitive functions had been evaluated using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (Cognistat) at baseline and reassessed 5 years later. The total FAB score and total Cognistat score were lower after 5 years in 9 patients each. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed that subscores for conceptualization and comprehension increased, while subscores for mental flexibility, programming, and inhibitory control significantly decreased after 5 years. The right MRA total score and right posterior cerebral artery score were negatively associated with 5-year changes in the total FAB score and total Cognistat score. The right posterior cerebral artery score was significantly associated with changes in subscores for mental flexibility, programming, sensitivity to interference, and construction. Specific cognitive domains can decline over time in patients with adult moyamoya disease. MRA findings might be useful for predicting future declines in cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease (PD) primarily consists of executive dysfunction. Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), composed of six subsets to explore different functions related to the frontal lobe is a validated and easily performed tool for executive function assessment. Aims and Objectives: We performed this study to evaluate the clinical utility of the FAB for the assessment of executive dysfunction in PD and to study the correlation of FAB with other tests of executive functions such as fluency tests (lexical and semantic) and trail making tests (TMT A and B) in a group of Indian patients with PD. Material and Methods: We included 60 patients diagnosed with PD per the UK PD Brain Bank criteria. Our study included 40 healthy age, sex, and education-matched controls. We recorded clinical characteristics of patients [age, sex, disease duration, Hoehn and Yahr stage, and Unified Parkinson disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores] and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and FAB scores of both patients and controls in a prescribed pro forma. Results: In the study group, mean age was 52.53 ± 10.42 years, mean disease duration was 5.77 ± 3.27 years, mean MMSE was 28.4 ± 1.53, and mean FAB was 11.53 ± 2.30, and they had significantly decreased mean FAB scores as compared to controls. FAB scores also correlated significantly with age, disease duration, Hoehn and Yahr stage, UPDRS score, MMSE, fluency tests, and TMT. Conclusion: FAB is an easily performed bedside screening test for executive function assessment in PD, and it can be used to detect early and subtle cognitive impairments in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the relevance of telephone-based cognitive screening tests in clinical practice and research, no specific test assessing executive functioning is available. The present study aimed at standardizing and providing evidence of clinical usability for the Italian telephone-based Frontal Assessment Battery (t-FAB). Methods: The t-FAB (ranging 0–12), comprising two subtests, has two versions: one requiring motor responses (t-FAB-M) and the other verbal responses (t-FAB-V). Three hundred and forty-six Italian healthy adults (HPs; 143 males; age range = 18–96 years; education range = 4–23 years) and 40 participants with neurological diseases were recruited. To HPs, the t-FAB was administered along with a set of telephone-based tests: MMSE, verbal fluency (VF), backward digit span (BDS). The in-person version of the FAB was administered to both HPs and clinical groups. Factorial structure, construct validity, inter-rater and test–retest reliability, t-FAB-M vs. t-FAB-V equivalence and diagnostic accuracy were assessed. Norms were derived via Equivalent Scores. Results: In HPs, t-FAB measures yielded high inter-rater/test–retest reliability (ICC =.78–.94), were internally related (p ≤.005) and underpinned by a single component, converging with the telephone-based MMSE, VF, BDS (p ≤.0013). The two t-FAB versions were statistically equivalent in clinical groups (ps of both equivalence bounds <.001). Education predicted all t-FAB scores (p <.001), whereas age only the t-FAB-M score (p ≤.004). t-FAB scores converge with the in-person FAB in HPs and clinical groups (rs =.43–.78). Both t-FAB versions were accurate in discriminating HPs from the clinical cohort (AUC =.73-.76). Discussion: The t-FAB is a normed, valid, reliable and clinically usable telephone-based cognitive screening test to adopt in both clinical and research practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sub-clinical cognitive efficiency deficits of a dysexecutive nature are moderately prevalent in healthy older adults and negatively affect their functional outcomes. To screen for such dysfunctions, the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) provided promising evidence, although its diagnostic properties have not been tested to date. This study thus aimed at exploring the performance on the FAB of a large sample of Italian healthy adults and comparing it in individuals aged < 75 years vs. ≥ 75 years. Methods: Four hundred and seventy-five healthy adults (169 males, 306 females, age: 61.1 ± 15.1; education 11.7 ± 4.6) were administered the FAB and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios were computed through receiver-operating characteristics analyses by addressing an above- vs. below-cutoff performance on the MoCA as the state variable (as including measures of executive functioning). Results: The FAB overall showed good accuracy (AUC = 0.71–0.76), although higher for healthy older adults. A trend towards higher specificity (64.4–80.3%) than sensitivity (61.1–77.8%) was found, despite these metrics being comparable in healthy older adults. Negative predictive values (0.98–0.99) were systematically higher than positive predictive values (0.05–0.24), whereas consistent post-test probabilities were detected (positive likelihood ratios: 2.19–3.35; negative likelihood ratios: 0.28–0.48). Discussion: The FAB is an accurate test for the first-level assessment of dysexecutive-related global cognitive inefficiency in the general population, despite being moderately conservative as far as both its pre- and post-test features are concerned. Its diagnostic value is more informative for individuals aged ≥ 75 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Executive dysfunction is seen in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a short neuropsychological instrument designed in clinical settings to evaluate frontal lobe activity. We aimed to assess the clinical use of FAB in patients with IGE for to detect executive impairment. Method: In this study, 30 patients with IGE and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. The presence and severity of executive dysfunction was investigated with FAB. Cognitive flexibility, decision making, working memory, and general intelligence level were examined using Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), N-back, and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, respectively. In patients with IGE, FAB results were related to their neuropsychological task performance. Results: The FAB score in patients with IGE was significantly lower compared to healthy participants. In motor programming tasks, patients with IGE performed substantially worse. However, no correlation was found between FAB and neuropsychological task and clinical characteristics. Conclusion: Executive dysfunction was present in patients with IGE and FAB may be used in these patients as an effective tool for evaluating frontal lobe function.

The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a well-established screening measure of frontal lobe pathology. The aim of this study is the development of normative data for healthy Slovak adults. The final sample consisted of 487 healthy adults (54% of them female). The mean age in our sample was M = 55.29 (SD = 19.96). For the whole sample, the mean score on the FAB was 16.46 and the SD was 1.64. The mean score on the MMSE for the whole sample was 28.39 and the SD was 1.43. All participants underwent a complex neuropsychological examination spanning the relevant cognitive domains. FAB scores were found to be negatively associated with age (rs = −0.464, p < 0.001) and positively associated with years of education (rs = 0.199, p < 0.001). FAB scores positively correlated with the performance in MMSE (rs = 0.266, p < 0.001). Statistically significant and theoretically meaningful associations to other neuropsychological tests used in this study suggested the adequate convergent validity of the Slovak version of the FAB. The present study provided accurate normative FAB data, which can be used for clinical and research purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to determine how prefrontal cortex activation and gait speed during walking is affected by cognitive dysfunction and dual-tasking. Eleven and 14 participants were included in the MOCA-J (Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score) < 26 (age, 76.0 ± 5.7 years; sex, six men and five women) and the MOCA-J ≥ 26 groups (age 73.9 ± 4.3 years; sex, seven men and seven women), respectively. We measured prefrontal cortex oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels (using Pocket NIRS HM), and gait speed during normal and dual-task walking (a letter fluency task was added). The oxy-Hb levels were significantly lower in the MOCA-J < 26 group than in the MOCA-J ≥ 26 group during dual-task walking. The gait speed was significantly lower during dual-task walking, compared with normal walking, in the MOCA-J < 26group.These results may have been influenced by the compensatory mechanisms in the frontal lobe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a neuropsychological tool largely used to assess executive functions. Prior studies found a marked ceiling effect for the prehension behavior subtest (PBT) in healthy and clinical populations. Aims of the present study were (i) to examine the psychometric properties of the FAB without the contribution of PBT and (ii) to provide normative data for a revised version of the FAB after exclusion of PBT (FAB15). Methods: The normative sample included 1,187 healthy participants. PBT had near-zero variance, poor content validity, and no discrimination power. Internal consistency increased when PBT was excluded. We assessed the FAB15 factorial structure, interrater, and test–retest reliabilities. Normative data for the FAB15 were extracted through a regression-based procedure according to sex, age, and education. Results: The principal component analysis revealed a single "executive factor" or alternatively a bifactorial solution reflecting the different degree of discriminative capability vs. difficulty of the subtests. The FAB15 demonstrated excellent interrater and test–retest reliabilities. Regression analysis showed that sex (lowly educated women < lowly educated men), higher age, and lower education affected FAB15 score. Accordingly, three grids for adjustment of raw scores (men, women, and both) were constructed. The cut-off was fixed at the non-parametric outer tolerance limit on the fifth centile (9.36, 95% CI). Conclusion: The observation of a ceiling effect in healthy subjects makes PBT not suitable for inclusion in a neuropsychological battery. The FAB15 may successfully replace the conventional FAB as a more severe and valid short screening tool to assess executive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deficits of executive functioning (EF) are frequently found in neurological disorders. The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is one of the most widespread and psychometrically robust EF screeners in clinical settings. However, in Italy, FAB norms date back to 15 years ago; moreover, its validity against "EF-loaded" global cognitive screeners (e.g., the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) has yet to be tested. This study thus aimed at (a) providing updated normative data for the Italian FAB and (b) assessing its convergent validity with the MoCA. Methods: Four-hundred and seventy-five healthy Italian native speakers (306 females, 169 males; mean age: 61.08 ± 15.1; mean education: 11.67 ± 4.57) were administered by the MoCA and the FAB. FAB items were divided into three subscales: FAB-1 (linguistically mediated EF), FAB-2 (planning), and FAB-3 (inhibition). Regression-based norms were derived (equivalent scores) for all FAB measures. Results: Age and education were predictive of all FAB measures, whereas no gender differences were detected. The FAB and its sub-scales were related to MoCA measures—the strongest associations being found with MoCA total and MoCA-EF scores. FAB sub-scales were both internally related and associated with FAB total scores. Discussion: The FAB proved to have convergent validity with both global cognitive and EF measures in healthy individuals. The present study provides updated normative data for the FAB and its sub-scales in an Italian population sample, and thus supports an adaptive usage of this EF screener. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contexto: A Esclerose Múltipla (EM) é uma doença desmielinizante crónica que pode envolver alterações cognitivas e executivas. As alterações executivas, relacionadas essencialmente com o lobo frontal, podem ser subdiagnosticadas, uma vez que os instrumentos utilizados na EM são extensos e complexos, podendo os seus resultados ser comprometidos pelos níveis de fadiga que poderão daí decorrer. A Bateria de Avaliação Frontal (FAB) é de aplicação rápida e simples e avalia as funções do lobo frontal. Objetivo: Explorar as propriedades psicométricas da FAB numa amostra de doentes com EM. Métodos: No estudo avaliaram-se 68 doentes com EM e 81 indivíduos sem diagnóstico de doença neurológica (amostra de controlo) com a FAB, a Subescala executiva do Montreal Cognitive Assessment/MoCA-E e o Teste de Fluências Verbais Fonéticas/TFVF. Vinte e nove doentes foram reavaliados com a FAB (intervalo 4-8 semanas). Resultados: Na amostra com EM, a consistência interna revelou-se adequada e a estabilidade temporal situou-se entre moderada a alta nas subescalas Semelhanças, FluênciasLexicais, Séries Motoras de Luria e Go-no-Go. A FAB correlacionou-se de forma elevada com o MoCA-E e TFVF, atestando a sua validade convergente, e a sua estabilidade temporal teste-reteste revelou-se adequada. A amostra com EM teve pontuações significativamente inferiores nas subescalas Fluências Lexicaise Séries Motoras de Luria comparativamente com a amostra de controlo(p < 0,05). Na EM, a FAB discriminou os níveis de escolaridade (p < 0,001) e a subescala Séries Motoras de Luria diferenciou os padrões de EM (p < 0,05). Conclusões: A FAB apresenta propriedades psicométricas adequadas para avaliar as funções do lobo frontal em doentes com EM, devendo integrar a sua avaliação neuropsicológica para auxiliar no correto encaminhamento terapêutico. Adicionalmente, a subescala das Fluências Lexicais parece ser importante para avaliar estes doentes, tendo potencial para o nível I do rastreio da disfunção frontal na EM.

Background: Neurocognitive dysfunction is an important issue in patients with frontal lobe lesions. These patients who may be in good neurological status may succumb to neurocognitive dysfunction, affecting their daily living and hampering the quality of life. This study aims to correlate pre- and post-operative neurocognitive dysfunction in patients with frontal lobe lesions. Materials and Methods: A prospective analysis of 50 patients of newly-diagnosed frontal lobe tumors of any grade deemed suitable for surgical resection was carried out. All patients underwent neurocognitive testing using frontal assessment battery (FAB), mini mental state examination, and verbal learning and memory test pre- and post-operatively. Results: In this study, 22 patients had right frontal lobe lesion, whereas in 24 patients, it was located in the left frontal lobe, and 4 patients had bilateral lesions. Only 12 patients were found to be in good FAB score preoperatively, and all of them had symptom duration of less than 3 months. 1-week postsurgery, 26 patients achieved a good score, which increased to 44 at 3rd month. Patients who had psychological dysfunction for more than 3 months had average-to-bad preoperative FAB scores, while at 3rd month postoperatively, only six patients were in average score and none in bad score. Conclusion: Frontal lobe lesion should be kept in mind in patients with neurocognitive dysfunction. FAB is a simple bedside test that should be included in routine neurological examination in daily neurosurgical practice to assess long-term functional outcome in patients with frontal lobe lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD) is an important health problem in the world.Objective: The present study investigated the validity and reliability of a new version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) named the FAB-phonemic (FAB-P).Methods: A total of 76 patients with ADD, 107 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), 37 patients with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI), and 123 healthy controls were included in this study. All participants were evaluated with the FAB-P and the cognitive assessments according to a standard procedure.Results: The global FAB-P scores in patients with ADD were lower than those of patients with aMCI, patients with naMCI, and healthy controls (p < 0.001). Patients with aMCI performed worse than healthy controls (p < 0.001). The interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the FAB-P were 0.997, 0.819, and 0.736, respectively. The test could distinguish the patients with mild ADD, aMCI, and naMCI from healthy controls with classification accuracy of 89.4%, 70.9%, and 61.6%, respectively. It could also discriminate between the patients with ADD and aMCI, between those with ADD and naMCI, and between those with aMCI and naMCI with classification accuracy of 73.8%, 83.9%, and 58.0%, respectively. The regression analysis revealed that the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the Stroop Color Word Test Part C had the greatest contribution to FAB-P score variance.Conclusion: The FAB-P is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating frontal lobe function and can effectively discriminate ADD, aMCI, and naMCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Executive functioning significantly affects the functional rehabilitation progress in stroke patients. The current study are aimed to examine the impact of executive functions on functional recovery gain in a sample of right hemispheric (RH) frontal stroke patients. Material/ Methods: A total of 50 inpatients admitted to the Theseus Rehabilitation Center and diagnosed with RH frontal stroke were included in this study. The initial assessment of executive functioning was conducted using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Functional recovery of basic activities of daily living (ADLs) was computed by the difference between follow-up and baseline Barthel Index (BI) scores. Results: Pearson’s analysis revealed that the FAB global scores significantly correlated with the BI gain scores. Additionally, multiple regression analysis showed a significant contribution of only motor programming to the basic ADLs recovery gain. Conclusions: The global status of executive function was found to be significantly associated with functional recovery gain, and motor programming was the strongest predictor in RH frontal stroke patients. These findings are discussed for the treatment rehabilitation prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasonography is useful to predict cognition long after carotid endarterectomy. • Common carotid artery end-diastolic flow velocity correlates with cognitive function. • Pulsatility index of left common carotid artery correlates with cognitive function. • Flow velocity and pulsatility index are useful markers of cognitive function. The relationship between ultrasonographic flow parameters and cognitive function has not been well studied. This study aimed to clarify associations between carotid flow velocity (FV) and cognitive function in patients with a history of carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Ninety-four patients who previously underwent CEA participated in this study. The Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (Cognistat) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) were adopted to assess cognitive functions at a mean of 6.5 ± 3.2 years after CEA. End-diastolic flow velocity (EDV) of the left and right common carotid artery (CCA) was significantly associated with total Cognistat score (p < 0.001) and total FAB score (p < 0.05). Pulsatility index (PI) of the left CCA was significantly associated with total Cognistat score and total FAB score (p < 0.01). A cut-off right CCA EDV of 14.5 cm/s offered the most reliable predictor of the bottom 25th percentile of total Cognistat score (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 61.0%, area under the curve (AUC) 0.731, p = 0.0060), while a cut-off left CCA PI of 1.83 was the most reliable predictor of the bottom 25th percentile of total FAB score (sensitivity 73.3%, specificity 60.0%, AUC 0.679, p = 0.0179). Left and right CCA EDV correlated with sub-components of comprehension, construction, judgment, programming (p < 0.01), and conceptualization (p < 0.05). Right CCA EDV correlated with similarity (p < 0.01), repetition, naming, and memory (p < 0.05). Left CCA PI correlated with attention, conceptualization (p < 0.01), repetition, construction, similarity, and mental flexibility (p < 0.05), while right CCA PI correlated with construction (p < 0.05). CCA FV may offer useful markers of cognitive functions in patients with a history of CEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We assessed the possible relationship between BMI and cognitive defects. • We observed that PD had significant lower BMI value compared to HC group. • Results showed that BMI correlated with disease duration and prefrontal functioning. • Non-tremor dominant PD showed a lower BMI value compared to tremor dominant PD. Weight loss is common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been reported that low Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with disease progression in these patients, but only a few data are available on the relationship between BMI and cognitive dysfunctions in PD patients. In the present study we systematically assessed the possible relationship between BMI index and specific cognitive defects. We enrolled a prospective sample of 37 PD individuals and 30 healthy controls (HC) of similar age, sex, and education. The BMI was calculated in each participant, who underwent a neuropsychological assessment exploring the general cognitive skills, frontal/executive, visuo-spatial, visuo-constructional and memory abilities. We showed that PD group had significant lower BMI value compared to HC group. In PD patients, the BMI was negatively correlated to disease duration and number of errors at the Stroop-Color Word Test, and positively to score on Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Moreover, a regression analysis revealed that, the BMI in PD patients was associated with disease duration and score on FAB. Our findings contribute to reveal that the relationship between height and weight is strongly related to frontal cognitive dysfunctions in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a reliable and valid bedside tool for testing executive function in dementia. Given the increasing interest in utility of FAB as a screening tool in early cognitive impairment (ECI), there is a surprising lack of studies evaluating its psychometric property and factor structure, nor the influence of factors such as age, education and gender, in ECI. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of FAB in older adults with ECI, as well as the influence of age, gender and education. Design, Setting and Participants: This is a retrospective, observational cross-sectional study with 300 community dwelling, predominantly Chinese older adults (14 normal, 130 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 156 mild dementia) who presented to Memory Clinic from January 2011 to December 2013. Measurements and Analysis: We collected data on demographic, cognitive, functional and behavioral evaluation. To examine the psychometric properties of FAB, we examined the concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity; internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha; and factor structure by exploratory factor analysis. The influence of age, education and gender was examined using unadjusted and adjusted correlational analyses with CDR-SOB. We performed analysis for the whole group and for MCI subgroup. Results: FAB total score decreases significantly from normal to dementia group attesting to concurrent validity. It correlated significantly with digit span backwards and Chinese Mini Mental State Examination (r=0.38 and 0.47 respectively, p<0.01) and poorly with Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire and depression (r=0.004 and −0.02 respectively), supporting its convergent and discriminant validity. Factor analysis yielded a single-factor solution for FAB with fair Internal consistency (alpha=0.610). FAB is relatively unaffected by age, gender and education level. These good psychometric properties extend to MCI, albeit with greater influence by education level. FAB items of conceptualization and mental flexibility have good discriminatory ability between MCI and normal subjects. Conclusion: FAB has good concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity with fair internal consistency in ECI that is premised on a one-factor structure. It is relatively unaffected by age, gender or education. Taken together, FAB is a useful bedside screening tool for executive function in ECI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are two relatively common forms of atypical parkinsonism seen in movement disorder clinics. This study provides an insight into the cognitive dysfunction in these two diseases. Aims: This study aims at assessing the cognitive and executive dysfunction and investigating the relationship between age, education, Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA), and frontal assessment battery (FAB) score in a group of Indian patients with MSA and PSP. Materials and Methods: This is a hospital-based observational study with the recruitment of patients of MSA and PSP based on consensus criteria and The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy criteria, respectively. A total of 50 patients of MSA and PSP admitted or attending outpatient department in the Department of Neurology, SMS hospital, Jaipur, were analyzed for cognitive and executive functions between December 2016 and December 2018 using MOCA and FAB. The Student's t-test was used. The level of significance was determined as itsP value withP < 0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results: On MOCA, impairment was observed in 24% of cases of MSA and 92% of cases of PSP. On FAB, impairment was observed in 20% of cases of MSA and 72% of cases of PSP. Conclusions: Cognitive dysfunction is a major finding in PSP and MSA patients. Thus, cognitive dysfunction in a patient does not rule out MSA as considered in the previous literature and is an important diagnostic finding in PSP; yet requires future research on a larger scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frontal assessment battery (FAB) was devised as a specific study design to assess frontal lobe dysfunction. Since Parkinson's disease (PD) is often associated with cognitive and other higher mental function complications, FAB test has been carried out by a number of workers to assess the integrity of the frontal lobe. On the other hand, the other frequently conducted test, performed in order to evaluate the mental status, is the Mini Mental State examination of Folstein (MMSE), but its reliability has been questioned in PD, since it does not assess the functions of the frontal lobe alone.Material and Methods: The present study was undertaken in order to assess the suitability of application of the FAB test in Indian patients and to perform its comparative analysis with the MMSE scale.Results and Conclusions: It was observed that the FAB test correlated with the age and the level of education of the patient. The results also correlated with that of the MMSE study, in spite of the fact that the latter is not considered to be a test which can assess exclusively the status of the frontal lobe. To the best of our knowledge, this is first study undertaken in India in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cortical damage in areas such as the frontal lobe is reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, aside from executive dysfunction, the pathological significance of this cortical damage has yet to be clarified. The present study investigated the effects of cortical damage on vestibular function in ALS. Methods Subjects comprised 18 ALS patients and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Cold air caloric stimulation was performed in all subjects to induce vestibular nystagmus, which was analysed to evaluate vestibular function. Visual suppression testing to investigate the suppressive effects of visual stimuli on vestibular nystagmus was expressed as suppression rate (SR, %). Executive function was tested using the frontal assessment battery (FAB). Results Suppression rate and FAB score were significantly lower in the ALS group than in the control group (p < 0.01 each). A positive correlation was also observed between SR and FAB score (R = 0.65, p = 0.023). Conclusion Visual suppression testing showed significant damage to the central nervous system vestibular control mechanisms, which utilize visual information in the ALS group and a positive correlation between SR and FAB score suggest a relationship between frontal lobe damage and impaired vestibular control. A simple vestibular function test may be useful as a tool to objectively monitor the progression of cerebral lesions in ALS. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • We investigated the effects of cortical damage on vestibular function in ALS. • Suppression rate of caloric nystagmus was analysed to evaluate vestibular function. • Suppression rate was significantly lower in the ALS group than in the control group. • A positive correlation was also observed between Suppression rate and FAB score. • Progressive damage to frontal lobe may impair vestibular control mechanisms in ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairment is an important and common symptom in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the potential relationships among frontal lobe function, behavioral changes and quality of life (QoL) in patients with MSA. Methods: A total of 203 MSA patients were enrolled and evaluated using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI) and the Parkinson's disease Questionnaire-39 item version (PDQ-39). Seventy-eight age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls were recruited to complete the FAB. Results: Among MSA patients, those with frontal lobe dysfunction were older (P = 0.005), had older age of onset (P = 0.002), lower educational level (P < 0.001), higher scores in the PDQ-39 domains of mobility (P = 0.042), ADL (P = 0.020), cognition (P < 0.001) and communication compared to those with normal frontal lobe function. The most common frontal behavioral changes were logopenia followed by apathy and inflexibility. The severity of frontal behavioral changes was associated with MSA subtype (P = 0.015), disease severity (Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale-I (UMSARS-I), UMSARS-II, UMSARS-IV, and total UMSARS scores) (P < 0.001), orthostatic hypotension (P = 0.022), severity of depressive symptoms and total score on the PDQ-39 (P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression showed that the determinants of poor QoL in patients with MSA were disease severity (UMSARS-I and total UMSARS scores) (P < 0.05), depression (P = 0.013) and total FBI score (P = 0.003). Conclusions: Frontal behavioral changes were potential determinants of poor QoL in MSA, in addition to the disease severity and depressive symptoms. Early discovery and management of frontal behavioral changes in addition to motor and depressive symptoms will help to improve the QoL of MSA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visual misperceptions (VMs) and hallucinations (VHs) often go unreported in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We assessed the utility of single and bistable visual percepts as testing tools for visual perceptual abnormalities in PD.Aim: To assess VM in patients with PD using single and bistable percepts as testing tools.Settings and Design: This was a case-control study conducted at a movement disorders clinic.Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with PD and 30 age and sex-matched controls were assessed for motor severity and stage using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-III (UPDRS-III) and modified Hoehn and Yahr scale. Higher mental functions were assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and Trail making tests (TMT-A and B) scores. The participants were presented with monochromatic images representing either "single" or "bistable percepts" and the misperceptions were recorded. VM scores of patients and controls were compared. The correlation between disease duration, treatment period, motor severity, frontal executive functions, and VMs were determined.Results: Twenty-six patients had mild-to-moderate PD. Patients with PD had higher mean VM scores (P < 0.0005). None of the patients reported VHs. TMT-A, TMT-B, TMT-B - A scores were significantly lower in the control group (P < 0.0005). Cases showed significant positive correlation of VM with disease duration, treatment duration, UPDRS-III score, H and Y stage, and TMT A and B and an inverse correlation with MMSE and FAB scores. The patients with VM score greater than the upper limit of normal (Mean + 1.5 standard deviation [SD]), calculated from the control group, showed similar correlation of VM with motor and cognitive parameters.Conclusions: VMs are frequent in patients with PD when assessed using single and bistable visual percepts. VM correlates with frontal executive dysfunction, disease duration, and severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pathophysiology of bladder dysfunction in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, a disease that shares pathology with Parkinson's disease [PD]) is disturbed prefrontal‐basal ganglia pathway. Similarly, DLB/PD patients have frontal executive dysfunction by the same mechanism. Aim: To study the relationship between executive function and bladder autonomic function in patients with DLB. Methods: We recruited 45 patients with DLB (28 male, 17 female; age 73.3 years ± 6.8). Other neurologic, urologic, and systemic causes of cognitive and bladder dysfunctions were excluded. All patients underwent urodynamics tests and three sets of cognitive tasks (i.e. the mini‐mental state examination [MMSE], Alzheimer's disease assessment scale cognitive [ADAScog; general cognitive tasks], and the frontal assessment battery [FAB; frontal executive tasks]). Results: The urinary questionnaire revealed urinary incontinence in 20 patients. Urodynamic testing revealed detrusor overactivity (DO) in 30 patients. Cognitive testing found patients' mean MMSE score to be 22.6 ± 4.8, while their mean FAB score was 11.5 ± 2.6. There was no relationship between DO and total MMSE score. However, our analysis revealed a significant relationship between DO and total FAB score (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that performance on the FAB test decreased in DLB patients with bladder dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Neurocognitive impairment is a frequent complication of moyamoya disease in adults, but the long-term outcomes of neurocognitive function remain unclear. We evaluated neurocognitive functions in a group of patients with a history of moyamoya disease and assessed the relationship between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and neurocognitive functions. Methods We studied 53 patients with a history of adult moyamoya disease. Neurocognitive functions were evaluated with the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (Cognistat) and the Frontal Assessment Battery. The relationship between rCBF and neurocognitive functions were assessed in patients for whom rCBF was measured using single-photon emission computed tomography with 123I-iodoamphetamine. Results Patients had a history of moyamoya disease for an average of 10.6 years, with 23 patients managed conservatively and 30 managed using revascularization. Attention, memory, conceptualization, mental flexibility, and inhibitory control were impaired but with no significant difference between conservatively and surgically treated patients. Posterior cerebral artery involvement and frontal lobe infarction were not associated with neurocognitive examination scores in nonrevascularized or revascularized patients. Orientation, comprehension, calculation, conceptualization, and sensitivity to interference correlated with rCBF in the left ventral middle cerebral artery territory (P < 0.01), whereas memory correlated with rCBF in the right dorsal anterior cerebral artery territory (P < 0.01). Conceptualization also correlated with rCBF in the left dorsal anterior cerebral artery territory (P < 0.001). Conclusions Our findings indicate that long-standing hypoperfusion in specific brain regions can cause related neurocognitive dysfunction even in mild moyamoya disease managed conservatively. Highlights • Neurocognitive functions can decline after a long time even in mild moyamoya disease. • Several neurocognitive functions correlate with perfusion in relevant brain region. • Specific neurocognitive functions are vulnerable to chronic hypoperfusion state. • Frontal lobe infarction is not associated with neurocognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We assessed frontal executive functions in patients with RLS/WED with and without augmentation and compared the results to healthy controls.Methods: We recruited 38 patients with RLS/WED. A total of 23 patients were treated with dopaminergic therapy and showed no signs of augmentation and 15 patients had a history of augmentation (AUG). Results were compared to 21 healthy controls. All individuals were assessed by the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the MMSE. Furthermore, impulsivity was assessed during a semi-structured interview.Results: Patients with AUG performed worse in the FAB than healthy controls and RLS/WED patients without AUG (p = 0.001, η2 = 0.201). When we assessed the subtests of the FAB separately, we found a significant difference in the subtest assessing inhibitory control (p = 0.008, η2 = 0.138).Conclusions: Our findings suggest an impaired executive function in RLS/WED patients with augmentation compared to RLS/WED patients without augmentation and healthy controls. Long term neuroplastic changes within the prefrontal cortex may be the underlying cause for these results. However, further studies in a larger sample size and with a more extensive neuropsychological test battery are needed to confirm our preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]