Executive functions and daily functioning in DM1: ecological assessment with Virtual Reality

Central nervous system dysfunction is characteristic of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Although no consensus exists regarding the exact cognitive profile of these patients, executive dysfunction has been suggested to play a role. Due to the impact of executive functions on daily performance, this study aimed to describe executive functioning in an ecological manner and to analyze its impact - and that of other clinical variables - on the functional performance of DM1 patients. A Virtual Reality executive functioning test (Nesplora Ice Cream), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition, and self-report questionnaires (AES, FSS, ESS and LIFE-H) were administered to 20 patients. Statistical analyses included correlation and multiple regression analyses to analyze the best predictors of daily performance. DM1 patients did not show major difficulties in the executive functioning tasks or in their overall performance on daily habits. However, both cold and hot executive functions still seem necessary for the correct accomplishment of life habits, since planning and level of apathy explained 47.6% of the total variance of daily functioning. This was the first study to assess executive functions in DM1 using Virtual Reality, and our findings open a debate about their actual impairment in this population.