Neuropsychological function in patients with a single gene mutation associated with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) is a nonlesional condition associated with mutation of the gene coding for the α4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). The nAChR modulates aspects of memory and attention. We examined the neuropsychological phenotype of ADNFLE, with a particular emphasis on understanding the impact on frontal lobe functions. We used standard clinical tests as well as focused measures of frontal lobe function in a well-defined group of patients with ADNFLE. Their performance was compared with that of a group of age-, sex-, and education-matched control participants. Patients with ADNFLE showed impairments on tasks requiring cognitive flexibility against a background of well-preserved intellectual abilities. In accord with existing research, verbal memory impairments were identified in the patient group; the level of impairment on these tasks correlated with disease-related factors. In our study of ADNFLE associated with one mutation, cognitive flexibility appears to be the core cognitive deficit.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2010.01.168
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences
Additional Information: Crown Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Uncontrolled Keywords: cognition,epilepsy,genetic,nicotinic acetylcholine receptor,autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy
Publication ISSN: 1525-5069
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2024 11:02
Date Deposited: 21 Mar 2017 14:30
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2010-04
Published Online Date: 2010-02-26
Accepted Date: 2010-01-29
Submitted Date: 2009-12-09
Authors: Wood, Amanda (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-1537-6858)
Saling, Michael M.
Fedi, Marco
Berkovic, Samuel F.
Scheffer, Ingrid E.
Benjamin, Christopher
Reutens, David C.

Download

[img]

Version: Published Version

| Preview

Export / Share Citation


Statistics

Additional statistics for this record