TITLE:
Dysexecutive Syndrome in a Patient with Wilson’s Disease
AUTHORS:
Nataly Gutiérrez-Ávila, Jimmy Zúñiga-Márquez, Natalia Burgos-Torres, John Arias-Valencia, Patricia Quintero-Cusguen, Rocio Acosta-Barreto
KEYWORDS:
Wilson’s Disease; Executive Functions; Neuropsychological Profile; Dysexecutive Syndrome
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.5 No.1,
January
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: Clinical Case Report: This paper presents
the alterations and deficits in executive functions of a 33 years old man with
Wilson’s disease, patient at the Hospital Universitario La Samaritana in
Bogotá, who in 2011 was diagnosed with cerebellar ataxia, and beginning to show
a clinical picture of dysarthria and generalized motor difficulties. The
presence of neuropsychological disorders, as well as the results obtained by
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain and optical exam
(Kayser-Fleischer rings) confirmed the diagnosis of Wilson’s disease. Results and Conclusion: The
neuropsychological profile of the patient showed alterations of attention and
mnemonic processes associated with frontal functioning, as well as slowing-down
of motor activities and low speed in processing information. The assessment of
executive functions revealed impairment in cognitive flexibility, impulsivity
and disinhibition, as well as difficulties in the process of planning,
organizing and monitoring. All of these features indicated the presence of a
dysexecutive syndrome in the patient and correlated with the results obtained
by MRI.