NEURORADIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN OLIVOPONTOCEREBELLAR ATROPHY (OPCA)

Thirty-two OPCA patients without cortical atrophy were studied. In add ition to inspection of films by a neuroradiologist (i.e. ''subjective' ' assessment), five neuroradiological measures were used, namely, the estimation of brainstem ratio, midbrain ratio, fourth ventricular rati o, brachium pontis ratio and bicaudate ratio. The patients were divide d into two groups: one with mild and the other with moderate-severe at rophies. The neuropsychological assessment measures were: global memor y quotient, verbal learning capacities, recall and recognition, attent ion, abstract thinking, visuo-spatial and visuo-constructive functioni ng. Three conclusions emerged: (i) cognitive disturbances in OPCA are related to the degree of cerebellar damage; (ii) these findings are co nsistent with the concept of anatomic and metabolic neocerebellar --> basal ganglia --> associative cerebral cortex loops; and (iii) it appe ars that the role of the neocerebellum in cognition is not exclusive b ecause some other structures (fastigius, vermis) and the fastigial --> limbic loops seem to be involved.