NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AMONG HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE, MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS, AND CORTICAL DEMENTIA

A comparison of cognitive function was made among patients with Huntin gton's disease, multiple sclerosis, and cortical dementia. Utilizing i ndexes from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Halstead-Rei tan Battery, it was found that there was substantially more severe cog nitive deficit in the Huntington's disease patients than in the multip le sclerosis patients, and the level of impairment was similar between the Huntington's disease and cortical dementia groups. Qualitative di fferences, particularly involving amount and type of perseveration, we re noted among the three groups. It was concluded that subcortical dem entia is not necessarily characterized by mild cognitive impairment, a nd there appear to be important qualitative differences between cortic al and subcortical dementia. Results are discussed in terms of the use fulness of the presently conceptualized distinction between cortical a nd subcortical dementia. (C) 1998 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.