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Executive cognitive deficits in primary dystonia
Author(s) -
Scott Richard B.,
Gregory Ralph,
Wilson Joanna,
Banks Sarah,
Turner Anna,
Parkin Simon,
Giladi Nir,
Joint Carol,
Aziz Tipu
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.10399
Subject(s) - dystonia , cognition , psychology , executive functions , neuropsychology , cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery , working memory , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neuropsychological test , audiology , neuroscience , cognitive psychology , medicine , spatial memory
Primary dystonia is a disorder of movement for which no consistent pathophysiology has been identified; in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it is assumed to be cognitively benign. We have studied a clinically heterogeneous group of 14 patients with primary dystonia on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Despite well‐preserved speed of information processing, language, spatial, memory and general intellectual skills relative to normal controls, we have identified a constellation of attentional–executive cognitive deficits on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Specifically, patients demonstrated significant difficulties negotiating the extra‐dimensional set‐shifting phase of the IED task. The implications of these findings for the pathophysiology of primary dystonia are discussed. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of a significant cognitive deficit in patients with primary dystonia. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society