Social cognition and multidimensional apathy in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis without dementia
Turk Noroloji Dergisi, cilt.32, sa.2, ss.173-179, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 32 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.55697/tnd.2026.607
- Dergi Adı: Turk Noroloji Dergisi
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, BIOSIS, CINAHL, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.173-179
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, apathy, social cognition
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objectives: This study aimed to compare social cognition and apathy between patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) without dementia and healthy controls (HCs). Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study examined 17 patients (9 males, 8 females; median age: 58 years; range, 31 to 70 years) with ALS and 34 HCs (19 males, 15 females; median age: 58.5 years; range, 31 to 69 years) between February 2024 and February 2025. Data from the Beck Depression Inventory, the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale, reading the mind in the eyes test, and theory of mind (ToM) tests were collected. The results were compared with HCs. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in terms of age, education level, or sex (p > 0.05). Affective ToM scores were comparable between groups (p > 0.05). Patients with ALS exhibited lower median cognitive ToM scores than HCs (27 [7.5] vs. 30 [5], p = 0.035). The median total Dimensional Apathy Scale scores were higher in the ALS group than in the HC group (18 [11.5] vs. 12 [5.25], p = 0.001). The groups differed in the cognitive and emotional dimensions of apathy but not in the executive dimension. Conclusion: Lower cognitive ToM performance, higher initiation, and emotional apathy scores were observed at increased rates in patients with ALS without dementia.