Prevalence of language impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Takeaway

  • Language impairment is found in 22.7% of patients with non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as assessed by the language subscale of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS).

Why this matters

  • In patients with non-demented ALS, impaired language is common; however, the current accepted prevalence of language impairment in this population relies on a 2013 publication, which had a small sample size and did not include ALS-specific language measures.

  • By re-evaluating the prevalence of language impairment in patients with non-demented ALS in a large, clinic-based cohort, a more accurate estimate may be provided for future reference.