Narrative discourse deficits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We examined narrative discourse in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to assess the role of executive functioning in support of language and the neuroanatomical basis for such support.

Methods

We analyzed a semistructured speech sample in 26 patients with ALS and 19 healthy seniors for narrative discourse features of coherence. Regression analyses related a measure of discourse coherence ("local connectedness") to gray matter atrophy and reduced white matter fractional anisotropy.

Results

Patients with ALS were impaired relative to controls on measures of discourse adequacy, including local connectedness and maintenance of the theme. These discourse measures were related to measures of executive functioning but not to motor functioning. Regressions related

SUBMITTER: Ash S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4142005 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature