The relationship between ventilatory function and cognitive and behavioral impairment in ALS

Abstract

Objective: To study the association between ventilatory function and cognitive and behavioral impairment in ALS patients accounting for the effects of pertinent covariates. Methods: Four hundred and eighty-one patients were identified from the Mayo Clinic Florida ALS registry who had concurrent forced vital capacity (FVC) and cognitive and behavioral testing using the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to study the effects of FVC and relevant covariates on the ALS-CBS cognition score, subscores, and caregiver behavioral inventory. Results: FVC was positively correlated to the cognitive and behavioral subscores on the ALS-CBS (p < 0.001), and the correlation was independent of the effects of site of ALS onset, age, and years of education. Conclusion: Cognitive and behavioral function may be adversely affected by ventilatory impairment in ALS. The presence of cognitive and behavioral impairment warrants a detailed assessment of ventilatory function.

Keywords:

• ALS
• cognition
• behavior
• ventilation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Kevin Boylan for the creation of the Mayo Clinic Florida ALS patient registry.

Declaration of interest

Jaimin Shah, MD – grants: MDA; industry grants: Corbus Pharmaceuticals. Otto Pedraza, Ph.D. – no pertinent disclosures or conflict of interest. Emir Festic – no pertinent disclosures or conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, JSS, upon reasonable request.