The Box Task: A novel tool to differentiate the primary progressive aphasias.
Eur J Neurol
; 28(12): 3945-3954, 2021 12.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34310820
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Differentiating the primary progressive aphasia (PPA) variants in clinical settings remains complex and challenging, especially for the logopenic (lv-PPA) and non-fluent variants (nfv-PPA). Recent studies suggest that visuospatial memory is more compromised in lv-PPA than in nfv-PPA and is relatively spared in the semantic variant (sv-PPA). Accordingly, assessment of visuospatial memory performance may assist in the differential diagnosis of PPA variants. Here, we investigated the utility of a novel computerised visuospatial working memory test-the Box Task-to differentiate the three PPA variants and typical Alzheimer's disease (AD).METHODS:
Eighteen lv-PPA, 14 nfv-PPA, 23 sv-PPA, 33 AD patients, and 32 healthy controls matched for age and education were recruited. All participants completed the computerised Box Task and WMS-III Spatial Span as measures of visuospatial working memory.RESULTS:
The lv-PPA group made significantly more Box Task between-search errors than nfv-PPA, sv-PPA and control groups. The AD group, however, displayed the greatest impairments on this measure relative to the PPA variants. Logistic regression analyses in lv-PPA and nfv-PPA demonstrated that the combination of Box Task between-search error variables (i.e., 4- and 6-box levels) could correctly classify 72% of lv-PPA patients and nearly 79% of nfv-PPA patients. Area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC) analyses revealed the Box Task was more sensitive than Spatial Span at differentiating lv-PPA from nfv-PPA.CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings suggest that a simple, computerised measure of visuospatial working memory-the Box Task-shows potential diagnostic utility in differentiating lv-PPA from the other PPA variants.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Afasia Progresiva Primaria
/
Enfermedad de Alzheimer
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur J Neurol
Asunto de la revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia