Prognostic value of motor and extramotor involvement in ALS

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder resulting in upper and lower motor neuron loss. ALS often has a focal onset of weakness, which subsequently spreads to other body regions. Survival is limited to two to five years after disease onset, often due to respiratory failure. Cognitive impairment is present in approximately 30% to 50% of patients and in 10%–15% of patients, the clinical criteria of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are met. Methods: In this retrospective single-center ALS cohort study, we examined the occurrence of cognitive and behavioral impairment in relation to motor impairment at disease presentation and studied its impact on survival. Results: The degree of lower motor neuron involvement was associated with a worse survival, but there was no effect for upper motor neuron involvement. Patients who were cognitively normal had a significantly better survival compared to patients with cognitive or behavioral impairment and to patients with comorbid FTD. There was no significant difference regarding survival between patients with FTD and patients with cognitive or behavioral impairment. Conclusions: The extent of motor and extramotor involvement in patients with ALS at disease presentation holds complementary prognostic information.