Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31521182›Full record

ArticleOrphanet journal of rare diseases2019

Overall intact cognitive function in male X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy adults with normal MRI.

Noortje J M L Buermans, Sharon J G van den Bosch, Irene C Huffnagel, Marjan E Steenweg, Marc Engelen, Kim J Oostrom, Gert J Geurtsen

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Orphanet journal of rare diseases, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 40% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Noortje J M L BuermansDepartment of neuropsychology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Sharon J G van den BoschDepartment of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1105, AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Irene C HuffnagelDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marjan E SteenwegDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marc EngelenDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Kim J OostromDepartment of neuropsychology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Gert J GeurtsenDepartment of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1105, AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. g.j.geurtsen@amsterdamumc.nl.
Amsterdam University Medical Centers · NLAmsterdam Neuroscience · NLEmma Kinderziekenhuis · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMen with the hereditary peroxisomal disorder X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) are at risk of developing inflammatory demyelinating lesions in the brain. In the absence of inflammatory (post-contrast enhancing) lesions on MRI cognitive function is considered spared, but some form of cognitive dysfunction may nevertheless be present. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to characterize cognitive functioning of ALD men with no or minimal MRI abnormalities, which will define cognitive functioning in this category of patients.

methodsA neuropsychological battery covering a broad range of cognitive domains, including language, verbal and non-verbal memory, visuoconstruction, executive functioning, and psychomotor speed, was used. Means and proportions of borderline and impaired T scores ≤36 were compared to the standardized norm group and a qualitative case-by-case analysis was performed for participants with T scores ≤36 within ≥2 domains. Patients with MRI abnormalities that were extensive (Loes score > 3) or showed enhancement post-contrast were excluded.

resultsThirty-three men participated (median age 44 years, range 19-71). Mean performance on verbal fluency was poorer in patients (45.70 ± 8.85 patients vs. 50 ± 10 standardized norm group, p = 0.009), as was the percentage of borderline and impaired scores on visuoconstruction (Beery VMI: 19% patients vs. 8% standardized norm group, p = 0.02; RCFT copy: 81% patients vs. 2% standardized norm group, p < 0.0005) and mental reaction time during a complex decision task (18% patients vs. 8% standardized norm group, p = 0.055). Moreover, 9/33 (27.3%) patients had T scores ≤36 within ≥2 domains.

conclusionsGiven the heterogeneous pattern of mostly borderline scores cognitive functioning seems not impaired in the vast majority of adult ALD males with no or minimal MRI abnormalities. However, borderline to impaired cognitive dysfunction was present in 27.3%, with the majority being borderline scores. Longitudinal studies will have to determine if this reflects early cerebral disease under the detection limit of MRI.

Indexed as

Magnetic Resonance ImagingAdrenoleukodystrophyAdultAgedBrainCognitionCognition DisordersCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsYoung AdultLeukodystrophiesMRINatural history studiesNeuropsychological assessmentPeroxisomesX –linked adrenoleukodystrophy

Identifiers

PMID31521182
PMCPMC6744701
OpenAlexW2972493917

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.