Equivalency and practice effects of alternative versions of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS).

To examine the equivalency of ECAS versions A, B, and C in an Irish cohort, and to examine potential practice effects, 236 healthy controls were recruited through the Irish ALS control database. One hundred and seventy-six (176) controls completed ECAS version A, B, or C. Separately, 60 controls completed all three versions (A-B-C), consecutively, four months apart.

Measuring reliable change in cognition using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS).

Background: Cognitive impairment affects approximately 50% of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Research has indicated that impairment may worsen with disease progression. The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was designed to measure neuropsychological functioning in ALS, with its alternate forms (ECAS-A, B, and C) allowing for serial assessment over time.

The path to specialist multidisciplinary care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population- based study of consultations, interventions and costs.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurological condition that requires coordinated, multidisciplinary clinical management. ALS is prone to misdiagnosis as its signs and symptoms may be non-specific, which may prolong patients' journey to multidisciplinary ALS care.

Methods: Using chart review and national register data, we have detailed the journey of a national cohort of ALS patients (n = 155) from the time of first symptom to presentation at a multidisciplinary clinic (MDC).

Caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: investigating quality of life, caregiver burden, service engagement, and patient survival.

Few studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have profiled disease-specific features of the condition in conjunction with assessment of caregivers' burden, distress, quality of life, and investigated patient survival. Eighty-four ALS patients and their primary caregivers were enrolled. Patients completed ALS-specific measures of physical and cognitive function, while caregivers completed measures of anxiety, depression, caregiver burden, and quality of life.

Visual encoding, consolidation, and retrieval in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: executive function as a mediator, and predictor of performance.

Objective: This study aimed to illustrate the variation of non-executive cognitive processes, i.e. visual memory, considering executive dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Screening for cognitive dysfunction in ALS: validation of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) using age and education adjusted normative data.

Background: Cognitive and behavioural changes are an important aspect in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) briefly assesses these changes in ALS.

Objective: To validate the ECAS against a standardised neuropsychological battery and assess its sensitivity and specificity using age and education adjusted cut-off scores.

Caregiving in ALS - a mixed methods approach to the study of Burden.

Background: Caregiver burden affects the physical, psychological and emotional well-being of the caregiver. The purpose of this analysis was to describe an informal caregiver cohort (n = 81), their subjective assessment of burden and difficulties experienced as a result of providing care to people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Using mixed methods of data collection and analysis, we undertook a comprehensive assessment of burden and difficulties associated with informal caregiving in ALS.