Jennifer A Foley1, R Saman Vinke, Patricia Limousin, Lisa Cipolotti. 1. *National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and †University College London Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom ‡Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands §Department of Psychological Sciences, Education, and Training, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of dystonia symptoms to cognitive function by comparing cognitive performance in patients with focal (cervical) and generalized dystonia subtypes and examining the differential contributions of severity of symptoms and mood disorders to cognition. BACKGROUND: Studies of the nonmotor syndrome in isolated dystonia have reported evidence of cognitive dysfunction, but the cause of this impairment remains unclear. Several studies have suggested that poor cognitive performance reflects the distracting effects of the motor symptoms and/or a mood disorder. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we used an extensive battery of cognitive and mood assessments to compare 25 patients with cervical dystonia, 13 patients with generalized dystonia, and 50 healthy controls. RESULTS: We found cognitive performance to be independent of all clinical and mood variables. We found no significant differences in cognition between the two dystonia groups. The combined dystonia groups had significant impairment on only one measure of cognitive function, the Trail Making Test. Two patients were also impaired on the Stroop test, and six on the Hayling Sentence Completion Test. CONCLUSIONS: The nonmotor features of dystonia include subtle cognitive symptoms and high rates of mood disorders, both of which occur independent of motor symptom severity and level of disability. Thus, we would argue that isolated dystonia is a tripartite disorder, with motor, affective, and subtle cognitive features.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of dystonia symptoms to cognitive function by comparing cognitive performance in patients with focal (cervical) and generalized dystonia subtypes and examining the differential contributions of severity of symptoms and mood disorders to cognition. BACKGROUND: Studies of the nonmotor syndrome in isolated dystonia have reported evidence of cognitive dysfunction, but the cause of this impairment remains unclear. Several studies have suggested that poor cognitive performance reflects the distracting effects of the motor symptoms and/or a mood disorder. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we used an extensive battery of cognitive and mood assessments to compare 25 patients with cervical dystonia, 13 patients with generalized dystonia, and 50 healthy controls. RESULTS: We found cognitive performance to be independent of all clinical and mood variables. We found no significant differences in cognition between the two dystonia groups. The combined dystonia groups had significant impairment on only one measure of cognitive function, the Trail Making Test. Two patients were also impaired on the Stroop test, and six on the Hayling Sentence Completion Test. CONCLUSIONS: The nonmotor features of dystonia include subtle cognitive symptoms and high rates of mood disorders, both of which occur independent of motor symptom severity and level of disability. Thus, we would argue that isolated dystonia is a tripartite disorder, with motor, affective, and subtle cognitive features.
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Authors: Marenka Smit; Alberto Albanese; Monika Benson; Mark J Edwards; Holm Graessner; Michael Hutchinson; Robert Jech; Joachim K Krauss; Francesca Morgante; Belen Pérez Dueñas; Richard B Reilly; Michele Tinazzi; Maria Fiorella Contarino; Marina A J Tijssen Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2021-06-03 Impact factor: 4.003
Authors: Tom Burke; Ruth Monaghan; Derval McCormack; Clodagh Cogley; Marta Pinto-Grau; Sarah O'Connor; Bronagh Donohoe; Lisa Murphy; Sean O'Riordan; Ihedinachi Ndukwe; Michael Hutchinson; Niall Pender; Fiadhnait O'Keeffe Journal: Clin Park Relat Disord Date: 2020-09-09