The Frontal Assessment Battery 20 years later: normative data for a shortened version (FAB15)

Abstract Background Deficits of executive functioning (EF) are frequently found in neurological disorders. The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is one of the most widespread and psychometrically robust EF screeners in clinical settings. However, in Italy, FAB norms date back to 15 years ago; moreover, its validity against “EF-loaded” global cognitive screeners (e.g., the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) has yet to be tested. This study thus aimed at (a) providing updated normative data for the Italian FAB and (b) assessing its convergent validity with the MoCA. Methods Four-hundred and seventy-five healthy Italian native speakers (306 females, 169 males; mean age: 61.08 ± 15.1; mean education: 11.67 ± 4.57) were administered by the MoCA and the FAB. FAB items were divided into three subscales: FAB-1 (linguistically mediated EF), FAB-2 (planning), and FAB-3 (inhibition). Regression-based norms were derived (equivalent scores) for all FAB measures. Results Age and education were predictive of all FAB measures, whereas no gender differences were detected. The FAB and its sub-scales were related to MoCA measures—the strongest associations being found with MoCA total and MoCA-EF scores. FAB sub-scales were both internally related and associated with FAB total scores. Discussion The FAB proved to have convergent validity with both global cognitive and EF measures in healthy individuals. The present study provides updated normative data for the FAB and its sub-scales in an Italian population sample, and thus supports an adaptive usage of this EF screener.

Download Full-text

Normative data for the Slovak version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)

Applied Neuropsychology Adult ◽

10.1080/23279095.2020.1748031 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Miroslava Abrahámová ◽

Eva Smolejová ◽

Daniel Dančík ◽

Karin Pribišová ◽

Anton Heretik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Normative Data ◽

Frontal Assessment Battery ◽

Assessment Battery

Download Full-text

Syntactic Comprehension in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Behavioural Neurology ◽

10.1155/2014/230578 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Kentarou Yoshizawa ◽

Nao Yasuda ◽

Michinari Fukuda ◽

Yumi Yukimoto ◽

Mieko Ogino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽

Executive Function ◽

Sample Size ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

Frontal Assessment Battery ◽

Auditory Comprehension ◽

Assessment Battery ◽

Visuospatial Function ◽

Bulbar Onset ◽

Lateral Sclerosis

Recent neuropsychological studies of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have demonstrated that some patients have aphasic symptoms, including impaired syntactic comprehension. However, it is not known if syntactic comprehension disorder is related to executive and visuospatial dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated syntactic comprehension using the Syntax Test for Aphasia (STA) auditory comprehension task, frontal executive function using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), visuospatial function using Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM), and dementia using the Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised (HDS-R) in 25 patients with ALS. Of the 25 patients, 18 (72%) had syntactic comprehension disorder (STA score < IV), nine (36%) had frontal executive dysfunction (FAB score < 14), six (24%) had visuospatial dysfunction (RCPM score < 24), and none had dementia (HDS-R score < 20). Nine of the 18 patients with syntactic comprehension disorder (50%) passed the FAB and RCPM. Although sample size was small, these patients had a low STA score but normal FAB and RCPM score. All patients with bulbar onset ALS had syntactic comprehension disorder. These results indicate that it might be necessary to assess syntactic comprehension in patients with bulbar onset ALS. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the pathological continuum of ALS.

Download Full-text

Propriedades psicométricas da Frontal Assessment Battery na esclerose múltipla

Revista Portuguesa de Investigação Comportamental e Social ◽

10.31211/rpics.2019.5.2.159 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 19-37

Author(s):

Sandra Henriques ◽

Helena Espirito-Santo ◽

Luís Cunha ◽

Laura Lemos ◽

Fernanda Daniel

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Assessment ◽

Montreal Cognitive Assessment ◽

Frontal Assessment Battery ◽

Assessment Battery

Contexto: A Esclerose Múltipla (EM) é uma doença desmielinizante crónica que pode envolver alterações cognitivas e executivas. As alterações executivas, relacionadas essencialmente com o lobo frontal, podem ser subdiagnosticadas, uma vez que os instrumentos utilizados na EM são extensos e complexos, podendo os seus resultados ser comprometidos pelos níveis de fadiga que poderão daí decorrer. A Bateria de Avaliação Frontal (FAB) é de aplicação rápida e simples e avalia as funções do lobo frontal. Objetivo: Explorar as propriedades psicométricas da FAB numa amostra de doentes com EM. Métodos: No estudo avaliaram-se 68 doentes com EM e 81 indivíduos sem diagnóstico de doença neurológica (amostra de controlo) com a FAB, a Subescala executiva do Montreal Cognitive Assessment/MoCA-E e o Teste de Fluências Verbais Fonéticas/TFVF. Vinte e nove doentes foram reavaliados com a FAB (intervalo 4-8 semanas). Resultados: Na amostra com EM, a consistência interna revelou-se adequada e a estabilidade temporal situou-se entre moderada a alta nas subescalas Semelhanças, FluênciasLexicais, Séries Motoras de Luria e Go-no-Go. A FAB correlacionou-se de forma elevada com o MoCA-E e TFVF, atestando a sua validade convergente, e a sua estabilidade temporal teste-reteste revelou-se adequada. A amostra com EM teve pontuações significativamente inferiores nas subescalas Fluências Lexicaise Séries Motoras de Luria comparativamente com a amostra de controlo(p < 0,05). Na EM, a FAB discriminou os níveis de escolaridade (p < 0,001) e a subescala Séries Motoras de Luria diferenciou os padrões de EM (p < 0,05). Conclusões: A FAB apresenta propriedades psicométricas adequadas para avaliar as funções do lobo frontal em doentes com EM, devendo integrar a sua avaliação neuropsicológica para auxiliar no correto encaminhamento terapêutico. Adicionalmente, a subescala das Fluências Lexicais parece ser importante para avaliar estes doentes, tendo potencial para o nível I do rastreio da disfunção frontal na EM.

Download Full-text

Value of the Frontal Assessment Battery Tool for Assessing the Frontal Lobe Function in Stroke Patients

Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine ◽

10.5535/arm.19111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 261-272

Author(s):

Mihyang Han ◽

Da-Ye Kim ◽

Ja-Ho Leigh ◽

Min-Wook Kim

Keyword(s):

Frontal Lobe ◽

Mmse Score ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Imaging Study ◽

Frontal Lobe Dysfunction ◽

Frontal Assessment Battery ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Assessment Battery ◽

Frontal Lobe Function

Objective To examine the correlation between the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) test, which is used to assess the frontal lobe function, and anatomical lesions as well as the ability of the test to detect frontal lobe dysfunction.Methods Records of stroke patients undergoing a FAB test and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the lesions determined by an imaging study: frontal lobe cortex lesions, frontal subcortical circuit lesions, and other lesions. The FAB scores of the three groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The validity of the FAB test to detect frontal lobe dysfunction was assessed by a comparison with the Computerized Neuropsychological Function Test (CNT) using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficients between the FAB test and MMSE were analyzed further based on the MMSE cutoff score.Results Patients with frontal cortex lesions had significantly lower total and subtest scores according to the FAB test than the other patients. The FAB test correlated better with the CNT than the MMSE, particularly in the executive function and memory domains. A high MMSE score (r=0.435) indicated a lower correlation with the FAB test score than a low MMSE score (r=0.714).Conclusion The FAB test could differentiate frontal lobe lesions from others in stroke patients and showed a good correlation with the CNT. Moreover, the FAB test can be used in patients with high MMSE scores to detect frontal lobe dysfunction and determine the treatment strategies for stroke patients.

Download Full-text