title: [Neuropsychological study of 12 patients with pure degenerative cerebellar disease].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cerebellum has been traditionally associated with motor control learning and performance. However, since 1970 a growing body of clinical and experimental evidences has suggested that the cerebellum may be involved in nonmotor cognitive functions as well.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the presence of eventual cognitive impairment in non-demented patients with isolated degenerative cerebellar diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with the diagnosis of selective degenerative cerebellar disorders, either inherited or sporadic, were selected (mean age: 40.42 +/- 13.49 years; mean education level: 9.92 +/- 3.99 years; duration of illness: 12.13 +/- 11.27 years, MMSE: 26.75 +/- 1.5) and evaluated through a standardized neuropsychological tests battery. Normalized Z scores were estimated and compared against 0, employing the t test for one sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant cognitive deficits were found in the following domains: executive, visuo-spatial, memory and attention functions. Performance on the Wisconsin test showed a significative number of perseverative errors. Memory deficits included verbal learning and free recall difficulties, with good recognition of the material presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study are consistent with the role of the cerebellum as modulator of mental functions. The cognitive deficits resulting from cerebellar pathology may be related with the disruption of cerebello-cortical connexions involving a complex network which includes the prefrontal region, suggesting that the cerebellum may process cortical information coming from different areas linked with the control of cognition.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina. dakar@elsitio.net
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pereyra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arakaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garreto
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bueri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arizaga
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Allegri
authors.forename: R E P
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sica
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests