[Survey of cognitive function in motor neuron disease].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of cognitive impairment 100 and frontotemporal dysfunction in Chinese patients with motor neuron disease (MND).

METHODS

patients diagnosed as MND underwent a series of survey including mini mental state examination (MMSE), neuropsychiatry inventory (NPI), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA).Demographics, site of onset, and disease severity-functional rating scale (FRS) were also investigated.

RESULTS

The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment determined with MMSE score was 24.2%. Comparison between patients with normal and abnormal MMSE showed statistic differences in depression state and FRS score. Since patients with anxiety and depression would also have abnormal NPI, a follow up study after 3-month antidepressive therapy for the depression patients was made and 2 patients were found to have probably frontotemporal dysfunction lasting for more than 6 months.

CONCLUSION

MND patients might have mild impairment of cognitive function and some of the patients were neuroethologically abnormal. 2 of the patients might have frontotemporal dysfunction.