Journal of neurology
Mild cognitive impairment in presymptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
By McHutchison C, Wuu J, Cosentino S and 9 others.
Abstract
Background
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are clinically and biologically related, and each may be preceded by a prodromal stage of disease. Mild cognitive and behavioural impairment (MCI/MBI) have also been observed in those with clinically manifest ALS. The primary aim of this study was to characterise MCI in presymptomatic ALS.
Methods
Criteria for frontotemporal-related MCI (MCI-ft), which require evidence of subthreshold cognitive performance or decline, were adapted from existing frameworks for MCI in prodromal FTD, presymptomatic ALS and clinically manifest ALS. MCI-ft was characterised in 216 Pre-fALS participants (74 C9ORF72, 94 SOD1, 20 other pathogenic variant carriers and 28 non-carriers) with neuropsychological data at 807 study visits. All designations were reviewed by a research neuropsychologist, with consensus discussions as needed.



