title: A rapid screening battery to identify frontal dysfunction in patients with ALS.
abstract: We studied the relationship between verbal associative fluency, verbal abstract reasoning, and judgment in ALS using a 20-minute screening evaluation. Deficiencies in these measures were found in 20.0%, 18.6%, and 35.7% of patients with limb-onset ALS and in 37.5%, 25.0%, and 60.0% of patients with bulbar-onset ALS. This simple screen identifies deficits that affect discussions of treatment interventions and end-of-life issues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flaherty-Craig
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eslinger
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests