EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - THE ROLE OF FRONTAL-LOBE PATHOLOGY

Deficits in executive function and the relationship to frontal lesion load as detected on MRI were investigated in 42 multiple sclerosis pat ients. A battery of neuropsychological tests examining executive skill s including computerized tests of planning and spatial working memory was administered to all subjects. Performance on these tests was impai red in the patient group when compared with a group of marched control s, but riot all executive skills were affected to the same extent. Alt hough a number of executive test scores correlated with the severity o f frontal lesion load, it was difficult to disentangle the specific co ntribution of frontal lobe pathology to the impairment on executive ta sks. This study highlights the difficulties in attempting to attribute specific cognitive abnormalities to focal brain pathology in the pres ence of widespread disease such as in multiple sclerosis.