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Pattern of intellectual impairment in Huntington's chorea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

M. J. Aminoff ,
John Marshall ,
Eileen M. Smith  and
Maria A. Wyke
M. J. Aminoff
Affiliation:
National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases, Maida Vale Hospital, and the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London
John Marshall
Affiliation:
National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases, Maida Vale Hospital, and the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London
Eileen M. Smith
Affiliation:
National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases, Maida Vale Hospital, and the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London
Maria A. Wyke*
Affiliation:
National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases, Maida Vale Hospital, and the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr. Maria A. Wyke, Psychology Department, Maida Vale Hospital, Maida Vale, London W9 1TL.
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Synopsis

Cognitive function was evaluated in 11 patients with Huntington's chorea, using eight subtests of the WAIS, and their performance was compared with that previously reported for a normal aged population. The pattern of impairment was similar in the two groups. Tests of immediate memory were given to nine of these patients, and to 10 healthy but aged subjects. In botḥ groups, there was a significant correlation between the performance of individuals in these tests and their IQ, suggesting that the choreic patients had no selective impairment of immediate memory. The clinical and psychological records of the 11 patients revealed no evidence of focal deficits, and the majority of patients were fully orientated and retained insight to their condition. These observations are discussed in relation to the pattern of intellectual impairment seen in other presenile dementias.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , May 1975 , pp. 169 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

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