Cognitive Functioning in Chiari Malformation Type I Without Posterior Fossa Surgery

Chiari Malformation type I (CM-I) is a neurological disorder characterized by a displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum into the spinal canal. Most research has focused on physical symptomatology but few studies include neuropsychological examinations. Moreover, although cu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cerebellum (London, England) England), 2018-10, Vol.17 (5), p.564-574
Main Authors: García, Maitane, Lázaro, Esther, López-Paz, Juan Francisco, Martínez, Oscar, Pérez, Manuel, Berrocoso, Sarah, Al-Rashaida, Mohammad, Amayra, Imanol
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arnold-Chiari Malformation - psychology
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Brain
Cerebellum
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology
Congenital defects
Cross-Sectional Studies
Executive function
Female
Humans
Information processing
Male
Mental Processes
Middle Aged
Neural tube defects
Neurobiology
Neurology
Neuropsychological Tests
Neurosciences
Original Paper
Pain
Pattern recognition
Spatial memory
Surgery
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Summary:Chiari Malformation type I (CM-I) is a neurological disorder characterized by a displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum into the spinal canal. Most research has focused on physical symptomatology but few studies include neuropsychological examinations. Moreover, although current research highlights the involvement of the cerebellum on higher cognitive functions, little is known about cognitive consequences associated with CM-I. The aim of this study is to analyze cognitive functioning between 39 CM-I patients and 39 healthy controls, matched by gender, age and years of education. Participants have been examined on a large battery of neuropsychological tests, including executive functioning, verbal fluency, spatial cognition, language, verbal memory, processing speed, facial recognition and theory of mind. Results show a poorer performance of the clinical group compared to the control group, even after controlling the effect of physical pain and anxious-depressive symptomatology. The findings suggest the presence of a generalized cognitive deficit associated with CM-I, which makes it necessary to focus attention not only on physical consequences, but also on cognitive ones.
ISSN:1473-4222
1473-4230
DOI:10.1007/s12311-018-0940-7