Executive dysfunction in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome: A theory-driven approach

Aims: In addition to amnesia, executive deficits are prominent in Korsakoff's syndrome (KS), yet poorly studied. This study investigates the degree of executive dysfunction in patients with KS for the three main executive subcomponents shifting, updating and inhibition using novel, theory-driven paradigms. Short summary: Compared to healthy controls, patients with KS show impairments on the executive subcomponents shifting and updating, but not on inhibition. Methods: Executive functions were measured with six carefully designed tasks in 36 abstinent patients with KS (mean age 62.3; 28% woman) and compared with 30 healthy non-alcoholic controls (mean age 61.8; 40% woman). ANOVAs were conducted to examine group differences and effect sizes were calculated. Results: Compared to healthy controls, patients with KS were impaired on the executive subcomponents shifting and updating. No statistically significant group difference was found on the factor inhibition. Conclusions: Executive dysfunction in long-abstinent patients with alcoholic KS shows a profile in which shifting and updating ability are affected most. It also highlights that executive dysfunction is an important feature of KS and requires more attention in scientific and clinical practice, as these deficits may also affect daily functioning.