Italian reference values and brain correlates of verbal fluency index - standard verbal fluency test - to assess executive dysfunction in ALS.

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), verbal fluency index (V) is used to investigate fluency accounting for motor impairment. This study has three aims: (1) to provide V reference values from a cohort of Italian healthy subjects; (2) to assess the ability of V reference values ( standard verbal fluency test [VFT]) in distinguishing ALS patients with and without executive dysfunction; and (3) to investigate the association between V and brain structural features of ALS patients. We included 180 healthy subjects and 157 ALS patients who underwent neuropsychological assessment, including VFT and V, and brain MRI.