<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Although the term of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often used interchangeably with motor neuron disease, ALS is universally accepted as a multisystem disorder. Cognitive impairment is an acknowledged feature of ALS, affecting language, memory and behaviour, and apathy is considered to be the prevalent behavioural alteration in ALS. It can be divided in three subtypes: executive, emotional and initiation apathy. Out of the three subtypes, initiation apathy is common among patients with ALS. Even in patients that do not meet the criteria for ALS with frontotemporal dementia, low-key neuropsychiatric and cognitive changes can be observed. Apathy has also been found to be systematically associated with disruptions in medial frontal cortex and subcortical structures in several neuroimaging studies that confirm the pre-existing brain lesions in the early stages of this disease. Thus, there is a growing body of evidence that motor signs and symptoms are accompanied or even preceded by cognitive and behavioural alterations, and screening for non-motor signs and symptoms can be clinically relevant.</p></abstract>

Although the term of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often used interchangeably with motor neuron disease, ALS is universally accepted as a multisystem disorder. Cognitive impairment is an acknowledged feature of ALS, affecting language, memory and behaviour, and apathy is considered to be the prevalent behavioural alteration in ALS. It can be divided in three subtypes: executive, emotional and initiation apathy. Out of the three subtypes, initiation apathy is common among patients with ALS. Even in patients that do not meet the criteria for ALS with frontotemporal dementia, low-key neuropsychiatric and cognitive changes can be observed. Apathy has also been found to be systematically associated with disruptions in medial frontal cortex and subcortical structures in several neuroimaging studies that confirm the pre-existing brain lesions in the early stages of this disease. Thus, there is a growing body of evidence that motor signs and symptoms are accompanied or even preceded by cognitive and behavioural alterations, and screening for non-motor signs and symptoms can be clinically relevant.

Apathy as Non-Motor Manifestation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures

Acta Marisiensis - Seria Medica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Apathy as Non-Motor Manifestation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis"}

Although the term of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often used interchangeably with motor neuron disease, ALS is universally accepted as a multisystem...

Apathy as Non-Motor Manifestation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published Online: Apr 13, 2022

Page range: 3 - 5

Received: Oct 26, 2021

Accepted: Nov 18, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amma-2021-0041

Keywords
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, non-motor manifestation, apathetic syndrome, depression

© 2022 Anca Moțățăianu et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Apathy as Non-Motor Manifestation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published Online: Apr 13, 2022

Page range: 3 - 5

Received: Oct 26, 2021

Accepted: Nov 18, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amma-2021-0041

Keywordsamyotrophic lateral sclerosis, non-motor manifestation, apathetic syndrome, depression

© 2022 Anca Moțățăianu et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, non-motor manifestation, apathetic syndrome, depression