Executive functions in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome: Prevalence, severity, and association with neuropsychiatric symptoms

Korsakoff's syndrome (KS) is frequently associated with executive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms; however, systematic knowledge about the prevalence, severity, and underlying relationship of these symptoms remains limited. This dissertation addresses two central research questions: Firstly, what is the profile and extent of executive dysfunction in patients with KS? Secondly, to what extent can executive dysfunction explain individual differences in neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly apathy?
 
Executive function was assessed using a multimethod approach. Although executive dysfunction was evident to varying degrees in the patient group, particularly in the domains of cognitive flexibility (shifting) and working memory (updating), these deficits did not consistently predict the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Neuropsychiatric symptoms in KS, particularly apathy, are more closely associated with general cognitive decline than with specific executive impairments. These results highlight the importance of a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and of incorporating the extent of executive dysfunction into diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with KS.