The relationship between theory of mind and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review

Lucena, Aline Tavares de; Bhalla, Rishi K.; Santos, Tatiana Teresa Belfort Almeida Dos; Dourado, Marcia Cristina Nascimento

doi:10.1080/13803395.2019.1710112

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The involvement of frontal regions in ToM is in line with previous imaging studies and represents the neuroanatomical bases of the early development of ToM deficits in subjects with bvFTD [3] and of the later involvement of ToM in AD [33,34]. In previous studies, we showed that ToM deficits could represent the first sign of bvFTD in otherwise asymptomatic subjects [35].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The Role of Hub and Spoke Regions in Theory of Mind in Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

et al. 2022

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Theory of mind (ToM, the ability to attribute mental states to others) deficit is a frequent finding in neurodegenerative conditions, mediated by a diffuse brain network confirmed by 18F-FDG-PET and MR imaging, involving frontal, temporal and parietal areas. However, the role of hubs and spokes network regions in ToM performance, and their respective damage, is still unclear. To study this mechanism, we combined ToM testing with brain 18F-FDG-PET imaging in 25 subjects with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (MCI–AD), 24 subjects with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and 40 controls. Regions included in the ToM network were divided into hubs and spokes based on their structural connectivity and distribution of hypometabolism. The hubs of the ToM network were identified in frontal regions in both bvFTD and MCI–AD patients. A mediation analysis revealed that the impact of spokes damage on ToM performance was mediated by the integrity of hubs (p < 0.001), while the impact of hubs damage on ToM performance was independent from the integrity of spokes (p < 0.001). Our findings support the theory that a key role is played by the hubs in ToM deficits, suggesting that hubs could represent a final common pathway leading from the damage of spoke regions to clinical deficits.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The Role of Hub and Spoke Regions in Theory of Mind in Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

et al. 2022

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“…Our data provide support to the premise that executive functions are closely linked to social cognition in AD ( Ramanan et al, 2017 ; Lucena et al, 2020 ). Firstly, performance on the WAIS-Similarities test, which relies on verbal reasoning but is also supported by executive processes ( Woo et al, 2010 ), was shown to be associated with affective ToM ( Miguel et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Large-Scale Functional Networks, Cognition and Brain Structures Supporting Social Cognition and Theory of Mind Performance in Prodromal to Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

Valera-Bermejo

Marco

Mitolo

et al. 2021

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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Impairment of social cognition (SC) skills such as recognition and attribution of intentions and affective states of others (Theory of Mind, ToM) has been evidenced in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). This study investigated the neuropsychological, neuroanatomical and brain-functional underpinnings of SC processing to obtain an understanding of the social neurophenotype in early probable AD. Forty-six patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild probable AD underwent SC assessment including emotion recognition (Ekman-60-faces task) and cognitive and affective ToM (Reading-the-Mind-in-the-Eyes test and Story-based Empathy task). Linear models tested the association between SC scores and neuropsychological measures, grey matter maps and large-scale functional networks activity. The executive domain had the most predominant association with SC scores in the cognitive profile. Grey matter volume of the anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal, temporoparietal junction (TPJ), superior temporal, and cerebellar cortices were associated with ToM. Social cognition scores were associated with lower connectivity of the default-mode network with the prefrontal cortex. The right fronto-parietal network displayed higher inter-network connectivity in the right TPJ and insula while the salience network showed lower inter-network connectivity with the left TPJ and insula. Connectivity coupling alterations of executive-attentional networks may support default mode social-cognitive-associated decline through the recruitment of frontal executive mechanisms.

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“…The RMET examines affective ToM (Baron-Cohen et al, 2001 ), since the subject must attribute another person's mental state. The RMET seems to be less demanding than other ToM tests (Lucena et al, 2020 ) and has been associated with the executive functions and the educational level (Heitz et al, 2016 ). Therefore, the RMET could be less sensitive to detect mild ToM deficits, which could explain why some studies have been unable to find differences between AD patients and controls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the FBT assess first and second order false beliefs because individuals must inhibit their own knowledge of reality in order to recognise another person's false belief. The FBT may be sensitive to detect ToM alterations in dementia population, but since is related to memory performance, it is essential to control the possible confounding role of memory deficits (Lucena et al, 2020 ). Additionally, the TASIT assesses social perception by asking questions about of other people's intentions presented in short videos.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Relationship Between Deficits in Social Cognition and Neurodegenerative Dementia: A Systematic Review

Setién-Suero

Murillo-García

Sevilla-Ramos

et al. 2022

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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BackgroundNeurodegenerative diseases might affect social cognition in various ways depending on their components (theory of mind, emotional processing, attribution bias, and social perception) and the subtype of dementia they cause. This review aims to explore this difference in cognitive function among individuals with different aetiologies of dementia.MethodsThe following databases were explored: MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. We selected studies examining social cognition in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases in which dementia was the primary symptom that was studied. The neurodegenerative diseases included Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The search yielded 2,803 articles.ResultsOne hundred twenty-two articles were included in the present review. The summarised results indicate that people with neurodegenerative diseases indeed have deficits in social cognitive performance. Both in populations with Alzheimer's disease and in populations with frontotemporal dementia, we found that emotional processing was strongly affected. However, although theory of mind impairment could also be observed in the initial stages of frontotemporal dementia, in Alzheimer's disease it was only appreciated when performing highly complex task or in advanced stages of the disease.ConclusionsEach type of dementia has a differential profile of social cognition deterioration. This review could provide a useful reference for clinicians to improve detection and diagnosis, which would undoubtedly guarantee better interventions.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020152562, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42020152562.

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The relationship between theory of mind and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review

Cited by 14 publications

References 41 publications

The Role of Hub and Spoke Regions in Theory of Mind in Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

The Role of Hub and Spoke Regions in Theory of Mind in Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

Large-Scale Functional Networks, Cognition and Brain Structures Supporting Social Cognition and Theory of Mind Performance in Prodromal to Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

Exploring the Relationship Between Deficits in Social Cognition and Neurodegenerative Dementia: A Systematic Review

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