Visuospatial function is a significant contributor to functional status in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Contribution of visuospatial abilities to the functional status in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been controversial.

Aim: To address whether visuospatial abilities have independent association with functional measures in patients with AD.

Methods: We regressed performances on a global cognitive (the revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale: HDSR), executive/ visuoconstruction (Clock drawing), visuoperception (Clock reading: CRT), simple visuoconstruction (figure copying), and frontal behavioral tasks on measures of basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) in 57 patients (78.

Progressive agraphia can be a harbinger of degenerative dementia.

By investigating three patients with progressive agraphia, we explored the possibility that this entity is an early sign of degenerative dementia. Initially, these patients complained primarily of difficulties writing Kanji (Japanese morphograms) while other language and cognitive impairments were relatively milder. Impairments in writing Kana (Japanese syllabograms), verbal language, executive function, visuo- and visuospatial cognition and memory were identified by neuropsychological testing.

[Slowly progressive anarthria and disturbed voluntary respiration--a case report].

A 68 year-old right-handed male initially felt an abnormal sensation in the throat and slight difficulties in phonation and articulation. The difficulties slowly progressed. Dementia and kinetic disorder of limbs has not been observed over two years after onset.