Adhesive capsulitis: the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Adhesive capsulitis (AC), more commonly known as "frozen shoulder", is a painful shoulder condition. The illness progresses through three phases: freezing, frozen and thawing. A gold standard treatment for adhesive capsulitis is not defined. The goal of any treatment is to reduce pain and restore shoulder movement. OBJECTIVE: Objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of gleno-humeral hydrodistension associated with physical therapy in patients with diagnosed adhesive capsulitis comparing the outcomes in term of pain and range of motion in patients with a phase 1 and a phase 2 disease. METHOD: Between January 2022 and April 2023, We evaluated 87 patients with adhesive capsulitis, 47 were excluded for others concomitant pathologies, finally 40 patients were enrolled for the study, of whom 23 had capsulitis in stage 1 and 17 in stage 2. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 2, 4 and 6 months after infiltration recording range of motion in all planes, pain and functionality scores. RESULTS: A significant improvement was recorded in shoulder range of motion in all planes with the except of extension in both groups. Phase 2 patients were able to regain shoulder range of motion in all planes except internal rotation which was recovered with more difficulty. Pain and functionality scores improved significantly between baseline and follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-assisted hydrodistention of the glenohumeral joint combined with targeted exercise has been successful in improving pain relief, reducing disability, and increasing range of motion in subjects with stage 1 and 2 adhesive capsulitis, especially if diagnosed before phase 2 (when the range of motion is completely reduced).

Systematic review of memory assessment in virtual reality: evaluating convergent and divergent validity with traditional neuropsychological measures.

Introduction: The evaluation of memory is a crucial aspect of both cognitive research and clinical applications, as it offers valuable insights into an individual's cognitive wellbeing and performance. Conventional neuropsychological assessments represent the established method for assessing different aspects of memory. Recent technological advancements, specifically in the field of virtual reality (VR), have introduced novel methods for evaluating memory. Objective: This systematic review aims to examine the current state of memory assessment using VR technologies, assessing the degree of convergence and divergence between VR-based memory assessments and conventional neuropsychological tests. Method: A systematic review of the literature was conducted searching PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science databases, leading to the incorporation of 24 studies. Studies were grouped according to the examined memory domain (episodic, prospective, spatial domain). Convergence and divergence validity were examined for each, and information on software and hardware features was collected. Results: This review demonstrates a notable alignment between VR-based memory assessments and conventional neuropsychological tests. Moreover, VR tasks have shown to exhibit associations with executive functions and overall cognitive performance. The inclusion of various ecological contexts, such as residential environments, commercial establishments, and simulated scenarios, serves to augment the ecological validity of memory evaluations conducted in VR. Discussion: The findings indicate that VR assessments demonstrate a functional perspective by effectively capturing the dynamic relationship between memory, executive functions, and overall cognitive performance. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge and tackle certain constraints that may hinder the widespread adoption and utilization of VR tasks. These limitations encompass factors such as restricted accessibility to VR tasks and the presence of heterogeneity in VR hardware and software. The dynamic and ever-changing nature of VR technology presents a range of potential avenues for future investigation and utilization in the domain of memory evaluation.

Can Secondary Adhesive Capsulitis Complicate Calcific Tendinitis of the Rotator Cuff? An Ultrasound Imaging Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the glenohumeral joint is a recognized cause of pain associated with both active and passive restricted ranges of movement. AC can be subdivided into primary and secondary forms. Trauma, surgery, immobilization, and diabetes mellitus are the leading well-recognized causes of secondary AC. Calcific tendinitis/tendinitis (CT) of the rotator cuff is considered a possible trigger for AC, as reported in a few previous articles. However, there are no original investigations that assess the frequency and characteristics of this association. The aim of our research was to evaluate the presence of AC in a cohort of patients with a known CT condition of the rotator cuff by an ultrasound (US) examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled all the patients admitted at our single institution (October 2022-June 2023) for the preoperative US evaluation of a known CT condition. In these patients, we searched for parameters related to secondary AC. An axillary pouch (AP) thickness equal to or greater than 4 mm (or greater than 60% of the contralateral AP) was considered diagnostic of AC. Moreover, rotator interval (RI) thickness and the presence of effusion within the long-head biceps tendon (LHBT) sheath was also assessed in all patients. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients (54F, 24M-mean age = 50.0 and range = 31-71 y.o.) were enrolled in the study. In 26 of those patients (26/78-33.3%), US signs of AC were detected. Notably, the mean AP thickness in patients with AC and CT was 3.96 ± 1.37 mm (Group 1) and 2.08 ± 0.40 mm in patients with CT only (Group 2). RI thickness was significantly greater in patients with superimposed AC: 2.54 ± 0.38 mm in Group 1 and 1.81 ± 0.41 mm in Group 2 (p < 0.00001). Moreover, effusion within the LHBT was significantly more frequently detected in patients with AC: 84.61% in Group 1 versus 15.79% in Group 2-p < 0.00001. CONCLUSION: US signs of AC are found in one-third of patients with CT of the rotator cuff, demonstrating that AC represents a frequent complication that should be routinely evaluated during US investigation to provide more personalized treatment strategies.

Desmin and Plectin Recruitment to the Nucleus and Nuclei Orientation Are Lost in Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy Myoblasts Subjected to Mechanical Stimulation.

In muscle cells subjected to mechanical stimulation, LINC complex and cytoskeletal proteins are basic to preserve cellular architecture and maintain nuclei orientation and positioning. In this context, the role of lamin A/C remains mostly elusive. This study demonstrates that in human myoblasts subjected to mechanical stretching, lamin A/C recruits desmin and plectin to the nuclear periphery, allowing a proper spatial orientation of the nuclei. Interestingly, in Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy (EDMD2) myoblasts exposed to mechanical stretching, the recruitment of desmin and plectin to the nucleus and nuclear orientation were impaired, suggesting that a functional lamin A/C is crucial for the response to mechanical strain. While describing a new mechanism of action headed by lamin A/C, these findings show a structural alteration that could be involved in the onset of the muscle defects observed in muscular laminopathies.

Attitudes of Mental Health Professionals towards Telepsychology during the Pandemic: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study investigated mental health professionals' attitudes towards remote psychological consultations and internet-based interventions. METHODS: An online survey in Italian and English was administered to a sample of 191 psychologists and psychotherapists to collect detailed information about their professional experience providing online psychological interventions a year and a half after the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. RESULTS: The results did not reveal a statistically significant association between the participants' theoretical approaches and the number of patients treated via the online modality. Overall, most of the participants found advantages to the online setting but also noted critical issues regarding privacy and the ease of integrating new technology into their clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: According to the participants, despite the challenges that must be addressed, telehealth is a viable psychological therapeutic option that is destined to grow in importance in the near future.

Unstable lesions of the forearm: Terminology, evaluative score and synoptic table.

The term "unstable lesions of the forearm" (ULF) was born to more easily describe how a partial or complete instability of the forearm unit might occur due to a traumatic loss of the transverse or longitudinal connection between the radius and ulna. For such an alteration to occur, at least two of the three main osteoligamentous locks (proximal, middle and distal) must be interrupted, often in association with a radial and/or ulnar fracture. Examining the historical patterns (Monteggia, Galeazzi, Essex-Lopresti and criss-cross lesions) and variants described in the literature, out of a total of 586 recorded interventions for forearm trauma, two elbow teams and one wrist team selected 75 cases of ULF. The aim was to describe the instability depending on its clinical and radiographic features, together with the anatomopathological evolution of the lesions based on the time of diagnosis and treatment. The clinical results, evaluated using a new score (FIPS) the Forearm Italian Performance, revealed a correlation between earlier diagnosis and treatment and a better score. The authors suggest a synoptic table that describes 1) the type of instability (proximal transverse, distal transverse, longitudinal and transverse, proximal and distal transverse), 2) classic patterns and variants with characteristic lesions and evolution over time (acute, chronic dynamic, chronic static) and 3) the three forearm constraints and segmental involvement of radius and/or ulna using an alphanumeric classification. Finally, some generic surgical suggestions are proposed.

Elbow Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Radial Head Fractures: Surgical Technique and 10 Years of Follow Up Results Compared to Open Surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the ARIF (Arthroscopic Reduction Internal Fixation) technique for radial head fractures and to compare the results with ORIF (Open Reduction Internal Fixation) at mean 10 years. METHODS: A total of 32 patients affected by Mason II or III fractures of the radial head who underwent ARIF or ORIF by screws fixation were retrospectively selected and evaluated. A total of 13 patients were treated (40.6%) by ARIF and 19 patients (59.4%) by ORIF. Mean follow-up was 10 years (7-15 years). All patients underwent MEPI and BMRS scores at follow-up, and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: No statistical significance was reported in Surgical Time (p = 0.805) or BMRS (p = 0.181) values. Significative improvement was recorded in MEPI score (p = 0.036), and between ARIF (98.07, SD ± 4.34) and ORIF (91.57, SD ± 11.67). The ARIF group showed lower incidence of postoperative complications, especially regarding stiffness (15.4% with ORIF at 21.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The radial head ARIF surgical technique represents a reproducible and safe procedure. A long learning curve is required, but with proper experience, it represents a tool that might be beneficial for patients, as it allows a radial head fracture to be treated with minimal tissue damage, evaluation and treatment of the concomitant lesions, and with no limitation of the positioning of screws.

Home-Based Individualized Cognitive Stimulation (iCS) Therapy in Portuguese Psychiatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cognitive difficulties are common in people with mental health issues, including psychotic disorders, although this population may have difficulty accessing treatments due to various challenges, including transportation, remembering appointments, or discomfort in crowded or unfamiliar places. Home-based services can be crucial and effective for reaching populations with accessibility issues; one home-based intervention technique is individual cognitive stimulation (iCS), which has been shown to be an effective strategy to target and improve cognitive functioning in various samples. Using a previously established Portuguese iCS protocol, based on an initial brief cognitive assessment and the subsequent administration of cognitive stimulation materials and reflection exercises, the current randomized controlled trial explored the effectiveness of the iCS intervention on participants in Portugal with psychotic disorders. Outcome tools included measures of cognition, depression, quality of life, and functional abilities at baseline, the completion of the intervention, and post-intervention follow-up. With two well-matched groups at baseline, the results revealed significant improvements in the intervention group on cognitive functioning, depression, quality of life, and, more modestly, functional activities. These results offer an important contribution to the field of iCS protocols, in an effort to enhance the lives and well-being of various clinical populations, including those with psychotic disorders.

Current concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of adhesive capsulitis: role of diagnostic imaging and ultrasound-guided interventional procedures.

Adhesive capsulitis is a common cause of painful shoulder, characterized by pain and restricted range of motion of the glenohumeral joint. With a well-known clinical presentation, and an increasing understanding of its clinical and radiologic features, early diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis is becoming a reality. Although often treated conservatively, for refractory cases arthroscopic release and open capsulotomy have been the only therapeutic option for a long time. Therefore, in the last years, a particular effort was put into the development of novel minimal-invasive techniques capable of pain relief and functional range improvement of the glenohumeral joint. The purpose of this literature review is to report the main updates on diagnosis and treatment for adhesive capsulitis with a focus on imaging diagnosis techniques and novel minimally invasive ultrasound-guided treatments. Results showed that ultrasound-guided procedures come with a high success rate in terms of pain reduction and improved range of motion, thus making the ultrasound a unique tool capable of giving the operator real-time diagnostic information confirming the clinical suspicion, and subsequently performing an interventional procedure.

ObReco-2: Two-step validation of a tool to assess memory deficits using 360° videos.

Traditional neuropsychological evaluations are usually carried out using psychometric paper and pencil tests. Nevertheless, there is a continuous discussion concerning their efficacy to capture life-like abilities. The introduction of new technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and 360° spherical photos and videos, has improved the ecological validity of the neuropsychological assessment. The possibility of simulating realistic environments and situations allows clinicians to evaluate patients in realistic activities. Moreover, 360° photos and videos seem to provide higher levels of graphical realism and technical user-friendliness compared to standard VR, regardless of their limitations in terms of interactivity. We developed a novel 360° tool, ObReco-2 (Object Recognition version 2), for the assessment of visual memory which simulates a daily situation in a virtual house. More precisely, patients are asked to memorize some objects that need to be moved for a relocation. After this phase, they are asked to recall them after 15 min and later to recognize them in the same environment. Here we present a first study about the usability of ObReco-2, and a second one exploring its clinical efficacy and updated usability data. We focused on Free Recall and Recognition scores, comparing the performances obtained by the participants in the standard and the 360° test. The preliminary results support the use of 360° technology for enhancing the ecological value of standard memory assessment tests.

Ketamine: From Prescription Anaesthetic to a New Psychoactive Substance.

Discovered in the United States of America (USA) in the 1960s, ketamine was introduced as an anaesthetic drug to specifically replace phencyclidine. Briefly, the substance moved from the medical world to recreational users, since it was discovered that intense psychedelic experiences were obtained with dosages lower than those prescribed for anesthesia. At the end of the 90's, it was circulated in London nightclubs as a drug itself and as counterfeit 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine tablets. In 1997, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) alerted the United States (US) government about the increasing diffusion of ketamine in American 'clubs', and in 1999, the substance was added to Schedule III of drugs controlled by federal authorities. In 2002, ketamine epidemics moved to Europe, and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction carried out a risk assessment monitoring of the phenomenon. An estimated ninety-nine percent of all global ketamine seizures occurred in Asia. Its growing popularity is due to the fact that this new psychoactive substance is cheaper than other stimulants, such as MDMA. Moreover, the amount used for recreational purposes does not cause respiratory depression and its legal use as a drug makes it widely available for a diversion towards illicit markets. Nevertheless, acute intoxication and several deaths have been related to exclusive ketamine use both in Europe and internationally. Since 2015, there has been an increasing rise in the illicit ketamine market, and currently, the drug is being used with unprecedented peaks and a consequent significant increase in seizures and clinical cases worldwide.

Elbow hemiarthroplasty for acute distal humeral fractures and their sequelae: medium- and long-term follow-up of 41 cases.

BACKGROUND: The earliest distal humeral hemiarthroplasty (or elbow hemiarthroplasty [EHA]) implants, which date back to the late 1940s, were performed in patients with severe elbow joint injuries as an alternative to arthrodesis. After some clinical reports and case studies with a short follow-up, published in the 1990s, a new "anatomically convertible" EHA model was introduced in 2005 and became a common surgical option to treat complex elbow fractures and their sequelae. We describe the mid- and long-term outcomes of EHA performed to treat acute intra-articular fractures or their sequelae. METHODS: From 2006 to 2017, 51 patients underwent EHA for acute intra-articular fractures or their sequelae. A total number of 41 patients (80.5% female) with a minimum follow-up of 2 years, 24 with acute lesions and 17 with sequelae, were identified retrospectively. Clinical evaluation was according to the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score (subjective), and the Oxford Elbow Score (OES) and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) (objective). Radiographic follow-up was with standard radiographs. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 92.2 months (range, 24-151). Mean patient age at surgery was 62.8 years (range, 45-81). The mean MEPS was 87.1 points, with excellent results in 26 cases, good results in 9 cases, fair in 2, and poor results in 4. The mean DASH score was 15.9 and the mean OES was 40.5, with satisfactory results in 30 cases. Twenty patients experienced complications and 2 required revision surgery. DISCUSSION: EHA is a valuable surgical option in selected patients with comminuted distal humeral joint fractures that cannot be reconstructed with stable fixation and in those with malunion of the articular surface of the humerus. EHA offers potential advantages, especially in active elderly patients and in those aged less than 70 years. It is essential to achieve joint stability, restoring medial and lateral ligament function besides the integrity of the coronoid process. An intact olecranon surface without signs of degenerative changes is also critical for EHA success. CONCLUSION: Our mid- and long-term experience with EHA is favorable, with a high proportion of satisfactory results and long survival rates for both lesion types. In selected patients with acute and post-traumatic injuries, EHA is a valuable surgical option.

Cognitive and social cognition deficits in Huntington's disease differ between the prodromal and the manifest stages of the condition: A scoping review of recent evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Huntington's disease (HD) is a dramatic neurodegenerative disorder encompassing severe motor symptoms coupled to significant cognitive and social cognition deficits. However, it is not clear whether and how patients' neuropsychological profile changes between the prodromal and the manifest stages of the condition. The aim of the present in-depth review is to consider cognitive and social cognition impairment in HD patients by differentiating deficits arising before diagnosis from those evident from the manifest phase onwards. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched between January 1st , 2010 and December 31st , 2020 by using multiple combinations of keywords related to the investigation of neuropsychological profile in HD for preliminary search, and by defining strict selection criteria for studies to be included. RESULTS: Forty-two studies were included. Evidence suggests that the neuropsychological profile in HD reflects a complex pathological spectrum of deficits. It includes impairment in the realms of executive functions, memory, attention, information processing, and social cognition. Interestingly, patients' profiles differ significantly between the manifest and the prodromal stages of their condition, not only in quantitative terms but also from a qualitative point of view. CONCLUSIONS: Researchers and clinicians should thus include in clinical routine timely and specific neuropsychological assessments in order to monitor patients' cognitive status as time goes by, with the ultimate goal to implement effective clinical management strategies. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The neuropsychological profile in HD encompasses a complex pathological spectrum of deficits. Patients' profiles differ significantly between the manifest and the prodromal stages of their condition. Clinicians should include in everyday practice a timely and specific neuropsychological assessment. Detecting patients' cognitive status during the early stages of the condition already can contribute significantly to implement effective clinical management strategies.

In Vitro and In Vivo Pharmaco-Toxicological Characterization of 1-Cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene Derivatives in Mice: Comparison with Tramadol and PCP.

1-cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene is a novel psychoactive substance (NPS), first discovered in Europe in 2012 as unknown racemic mixture of its three stereoisomers: ortho, meta and para. Each of these has structural similarities with the analgesic tramadol and the dissociative anesthetic phencyclidine. In light of these structural analogies, and based on the fact that both tramadol and phencyclidine are substances that cause toxic effects in humans, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic profile of these molecules, and to compare them with those caused by tramadol and phencyclidine. In vitro studies demonstrated that tramadol, ortho, meta and para were inactive at mu, kappa and delta opioid receptors. Systemic administration of the three stereoisomers impairs sensorimotor responses, modulates spontaneous motor activity, induces modest analgesia, and alters thermoregulation and cardiorespiratory responses in the mouse in some cases, with a similar profile to that of tramadol and phencyclidine. Naloxone partially prevents only the visual sensorimotor impairments caused by three stereoisomers, without preventing other effects. The present data show that 1-cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene derivatives cause pharmaco-toxicological effects by activating both opioid and non-opioid mechanisms and suggest that their use could potentially lead to abuse and bodily harm.

The complex and constantly evolving public health threat of new psychoactive substances in Italy: addressing the main functions of a national observatory of drugs.

At the end of the 90s in Europe, the new psychoactive substances (NPS) phenomenon was limited to a small number of molecules created to mimic the actions and psychoactive effects of licensed medicines and existing drugs that are controlled by the United Nations drug conventions and therefore traded as their "legal" replacements. NPS were mostly circulating in rave parties and electronic music festivals. The globalization, the evolution of e-commerce and the growing popularity of NPS, facilitated the development of a wide illegal market in constant expansion. The dynamic nature of this phenomenon has led to an evolution in the prevention and monitoring of NPS trafficking within the European Union. The European legislative system has been amended with the aim of creating a faster and more effective regulatory system to tackle NPS diffusion and ban their sale and circulation. At the end of 2008, in compliance with the European Council Decision 2005/387/JHA, the Anti-Drug Policies Department of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers activated the National Early Warning System to promote a rapid exchange of information on NPS between Italy and the EU.

A Scoping Review of Cognitive Training in Neurodegenerative Diseases via Computerized and Virtual Reality Tools: What We Know So Far.

Most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis are heterogeneous in their clinical profiles and underlying pathophysiology, although they typically share the presence of cognitive impairment that worsens significantly during the course of the disease. Viable pharmacological options for cognitive symptoms in these clinical conditions are currently lacking. In recent years, several studies have started to apply Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) and Virtual Reality (VR) tools to try and contrast patients' cognitive decay over time. However, no in-depth literature review of the contribution of these promising therapeutic options across main neurodegenerative diseases has been conducted yet. The present paper reports the state-of-the-art of CCT and VR studies targeting cognitive impairment in most common neurodegenerative conditions. Our twofold aim is to point out the scientific evidence available so far and to support health professionals to consider these promising therapeutic tools when planning rehabilitative interventions, especially when the access to regular and frequent hospital consultations is not easy to be provided.

A Scoping Review of Neuromodulation Techniques in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Useful Tool for Clinical Practice?

Background and Objectives: Neurodegenerative diseases that typically affect the elderly such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and frontotemporal dementia are typically characterised by significant cognitive impairment that worsens significantly over time. To date, viable pharmacological options for the cognitive symptoms in these clinical conditions are lacking. In recent years, various studies have employed neuromodulation techniques to try and contrast patients' decay. Materials and Methods: We conducted an in-depth literature review of the state-of-the-art of the contribution of these techniques across these neurodegenerative diseases. Results: The present review reports that neuromodulation techniques targeting cognitive impairment do not allow to draw yet any definitive conclusion about their clinical efficacy although preliminary evidence is very encouraging. Conclusions: Further and more robust studies should evaluate the potentialities and limitations of the application of these promising therapeutic tools to neurodegenerative diseases.

Reconstruction of proximal humeral fractures without screws using a reinforced bone substitute.

Multi-fragment fractures are still a challenge: current clinical practice relies on plates and screws. Treatment of fractures of the proximal humerus has the intra-operative risk of articular damage when inserting multiple screws. Distal-varus collapse of the head is a frequent complication in osteoporotic patients. The aim of this biomechanical study was to investigate if an Innovative-cement-technique (the screws are replaced by injection of cement) provides the same or better stability of the reconstructed head compared to the Standard-technique (locking screws). A four-fragment fracture was simulated in twelve pairs of humeri, with removal of part of the cancellous bone to simulate osteoporotic "eggshell" defect. One humerus of each pair was repaired either with a Standard-technique (locking plate, 2 cortical and 6 locking screws), or with the Innovative-cement-technique (injection of a partially-resorbable reinforced bone substitute consisting of PMMA additivated with 26% beta-TCP). Cement injection was performed both in the lab and under fluoroscopic monitoring. The reconstructed specimens were tested to failure with a cyclic force of increasing amplitude. The Innovative-cement-technique withstood a force 3.57 times larger than the contralateral Standard reconstructions before failure started. The maximum force before final collapse for the Innovative-cement-technique was 3.56 times larger than the contralateral Standard-technique. These differences were statistically significant. The Innovative-cement-technique, based on the reinforced bone substitute, demonstrated better biomechanical properties compared to the Standard-technique. These findings, along with the advantage of avoiding the possible complications associated with the locking screws, may help safer and more effective treatment in case of osteoporotic multi-fragment humeral fractures.

The Characteristics of Cognitive Impairment in ALS Patients Depend on the Lateralization of Motor Damage.

(1) Background: Cognitive features of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have never been specifically analyzed according to the lateralization of motor impairment. In the present study we investigated the cognitive performances of ALS patients to describe the relationship between motor and cognitive dysfunction, according to site and side of disease onset. (2) Methods: Six-hundred and nine ALS patients underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation at diagnosis in Turin ALS Centre Tests included-mini-mental state examination (MMSE), frontal assessment battery (FAB), trail-making test A/B (TMT A-B), digit span forward and backward (digit span FW/digit span BW), letter fluency test (FAS), category fluency test (CAT), Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), Babcock story recall test (BSRT), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCFT), Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), Raven's coloured progressive matrices (CPM47). Cognitive performances of patients, grouped by side and site of onset, were statistically compared using z-scores, as appropriate. (3) Results: Bulbar patients and bilateral spinal onset patients (Sbil) were generally characterized by lower cognitive performances in most neuropsychological tests, when compared to patients with lateralized onset (right-side spinal onset, Sri and left-side spinal onset, Sle). Digit span backward and visual memory task (ROCFT) median z-scores were significantly higher, reflecting a better cognitive performance, in Sri patients when compared to bulbar/Sbil patients, while verbal memory tasks (RAVLT and BRST) resulted in significantly higher scores in Sle patients. Our results are in keeping with hemispheric functional lateralization of language and visuospatial abilities. (4) Conclusions: In ALS patients, as in other neurodegenerative diseases, we found a direct relationship between lateralized motor and cognitive features.