T. Botezmarquard et al., NEURORADIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN OLIVOPONTOCEREBELLAR ATROPHY (OPCA), European journal of neurology, 3(2), 1996, pp. 89-97
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.