Authors JJ Claus, E Mohr
Title Attentional deficits in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's
diseases
Discipline Neurosciences & Behavior
Document type Article
Language English
Address Claus JJ, Univ Amsterdam, Acad Med Ctr, Dept Neurol,
Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
ISBN/ISSN 0001-6314
Publisher Munksgaard Int Publ Ltd, 35 Norre Sogade, PO Box 2148,
DK-1016 Copenhagen, Denmark
Abstract Introduction - Attentional deficits have been shown in
Alzheimer's disease but it is unknown whether this reflects disease
specific impairment or is present in other neurodegenerative disorders.
Material & methods - We administered a verbal dichotic listening task
(free recall and selective allocation to the left or right ear) to 17
patients with Alzheimer's disease, 19 patients with Huntington's disease,
10 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease with clinical evidence of
dementia (DemPD), 22 non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD),
and 22 healthy controls. Patients with dementia were matched for dementia
severity and performance in the 3 recall conditions was used as a measure
of attentional capacity. Results - Patients with dementia (Alzheimer and
Huntington patients, DemPD) were less accurate than those without dementia
(PD and normal subjects). Demented subjects performed at comparable levels
regardless of specific diagnosis; likewise those without dementia also
achieved similar levels. All groups had a right ear preference under the
free recall condition. Alzheimer and Huntington patients showed consistent
right ear preference under all recall conditions, while PD patients, like
controls, could selectively allocate attention to the left under left ear
recall, regardless of the presence of dementia. Conclusion - The findings
suggest a double dissociation. Non-selective attentional processing is
affected by dementia presence versus absence but not by specific disease,
while selective attentional processing shows disease specific
impairments, regardless of the presence of dementia.
-----------------------------------------------------------
TRW Spacecraft Operations East
14320 Sullyfield Circle
Chantilly VA 22021
(703) 802-1863
