Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

FAB-D: German version of the Frontal Assessment Battery

  • Original Communication
  • Published:
Journal of Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Executive dysfunction (ED) is a frequent consequence of neurological disorders, such as stroke, trauma or dementia, but also appears in normal aging. We developed a German version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB-D), a short test which has previously been developed (Dubois et al., Neurology 55:1621–1626, 2000) to detect ED during bedside screening. A sample of 401 cognitively intact subjects aged 50–95 was tested with the FAB-D and several neuropsychological tests tapping executive functions, memory and calculation abilities. Aim of the study was to receive normative data for different age and educational groups, and to learn which tests predict performance on the FAB-D. We found clear effects of age and education; furthermore, FAB-D performance was predicted by other tests of executive functioning, but also by calculation and memory abilities. The present study reports data of healthy individuals and may be useful for comparing patients’ performance with a normative sample.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ahn SW, Kim SH, Kim JE, Kim SM, Kim SH, Sung JJ, Lee KW, Hong YH (2011) Frontal assessment battery to evaluate frontal lobe dysfunction in ALS patients. Can J Neurol Sci 38:242–246

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Alexander GE, DeLong MR, Strick PL (1986) Parallel organization of functionally segregated circuits linking basal ganglia and cortex. Annu Rev Neurosci 9:357–381

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Appollonio I, Leone M, Isella V, Piamarta F, Consoli T, Villa ML, Forapani E, Russo A, Nichelli P (2005) The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB): normative values in an Italian population sample. Neurol Sci 26:108–116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Beato R, Amaral-Carvalho V, Guimaraes HC, Tumas V, Souza CP, Oliveira GN, Caramelli P (2012) Frontal assessment battery in a Brazilian sample of healthy controls: normative data. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 70:278–280

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Berres M, Monsch AU, Bernasconi F, Thalmann B, Stahelin HB (2000) Normal ranges of neuropsychological tests for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Stud Health Technol Inform 77:195–199

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Buschke H, Kuslansky G, Katz M, Stewart WF, Sliwinski MJ, Eckholdt HM, Lipton RB (1999) Screening for dementia with the memory impairment screen. Neurology 52:231–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Castiglioni S, Pelati O, Zuffi M, Somalvico F, Marino L, Tentorio T, Franceschi M (2006) The frontal assessment battery does not differentiate frontotemporal dementia from Alzheimer’s disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 22:125–131

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cohen OS, Vakil E, Tanne D, Molshatzki N, Nitsan Z, Hassin-Baer S (2012) The frontal assessment Battery as a tool for evaluation of frontal lobe dysfunction in patients with Parkinson disease. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 25:71–77

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Cunha PJ, Nicastri S, de Andrade AG, Bolla KI (2010) The frontal assessment battery (FAB) reveals neurocognitive dysfunction in substance-dependent individuals in distinct executive domains: abstract reasoning, motor programming, and cognitive flexibility. Addict Behav 35:875–881

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Delazer M, Girelli L, Grana A, Domahs F (2003) Number processing and calculation–normative data from healthy adults. Clin Neuropsychol 17:331–350

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Devinsky ODM (2004) Executive functions and the frontal lobes. In: Devinsky ODM (ed) Neurology of cognitive and behavioral disorders. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 302–362

    Google Scholar 

  12. Domingues SC, Mendonca JB, Laranjeira R, Nakamura-Palacios EM (2009) Drinking and driving: a decrease in executive frontal functions in young drivers with high blood alcohol concentration. Alcohol 43:657–664

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dubois B, Slachevsky A, Litvan I, Pillon B (2000) The FAB: a Frontal Assessment Battery at bedside. Neurology 55:1621–1626

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Eslinger PJ, Chakara F (2004) Frontal lobe and executive functions. In: Rizzo M, Eslinger PJ (eds) Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychology. W.B Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 435–455

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fisk JE, Sharp CA (2004) Age-related impairment in executive functioning: updating, inhibition, shifting, and access. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 26:874–890

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Floris G, Borghero G, Chio A, Secchi L, Cannas A, Sardu C, Calvo A, Moglia C, Marrosu MG (2012) Cognitive screening in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in early stages. Amyotroph Lateral Scler 13:95–101

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR (1975) “Mini-mental state”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 12:189–198

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gleichgerrcht E, Roca M, Manes F, Torralva T (2011) Comparing the clinical usefulness of the Institute of Cognitive Neurology (INECO) Frontal Screening (IFS) and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in frontotemporal dementia. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 33:997–1004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Graver CJ, Hajek CA, Bieliauskas LA (2011) An investigation of impaired scores on the frontal assessment battery in a VA population. Appl Neuropsychol 18:278–283

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Guedj E, Allali G, Goetz C, Le Ber I, Volteau M, Lacomblez L, Vera P, Hitzel A, Hannequin D, Decousus M, Thomas-Antérion C, Magne C, Vercelletto M, Bernard AM, Didic M, Lotterie JA, Puel M, Brice A, French research network on FTD/FTD-MND, Habert MO, Dubois B (2008) Frontal Assessment Battery is a marker of dorsolateral and medial frontal functions: a SPECT study in frontotemporal dementia. J Neurol Sci 273(1–2):84–87

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Iavarone A, Lore E, De FC, Milan G, Mosca R, Pappata S, Galeone F, Sorrentino P, Scognamiglio M, Postiglione A (2011) Dysexecutive performance of healthy oldest old subjects on the Frontal Assessment Battery. Aging Clin Exp Res 23:351–356

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kim TH, Huh Y, Choe JY, Jeong JW, Park JH, Lee SB, Lee JJ, Jhoo JH, Lee DY, Woo JI, Kim KW (2010) Korean version of Frontal Assessment Battery: psychometric properties and normative data. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 29:363–370

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kume K, Hanyu H, Murakami M, Sato T, Hirao K, Kanetaka H, Sakurai H, Iwamoto T (2011) Frontal Assessment Battery and brain perfusion images in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 11:77–82

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Lima CF, Meireles LP, Fonseca R, Castro SL, Garrett C (2008) The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in Parkinson’s disease and correlations with formal measures of executive functioning. J Neurol 255:1756–1761

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lipton AM, Ohman KA, Womack KB, Hynan LS, Ninman ET, Lacritz LH (2005) Subscores of the FAB differentiate frontotemporal lobar degeneration from AD. Neurology 65:726–731

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Marconi R, Antonini A, Barone P, Colosimo C, Avarello TP, Bottacchi E, Cannas A, Ceravolo MG, Ceravolo R, Cicarelli G, Gaglio RM, Giglia L, Iemolo F, Manfredi M, Meco G, Nicoletti A, Pederzoli M, Petrone A, Pisani A, Pontieri FE, Quatrale R, Ramat S, Scala R, Volpe G, Zappulla S, Bentivoglio AR, Stocchi F, Trianni G, Del DP, De GD, Grasso L, Morgante F, Santangelo G, Fabbrini G, Morgante L (2012) Frontal assessment battery scores and non-motor symptoms in parkinsonian disorders. Neurol Sci 33:585–593

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Miki E, Kataoka T, Okamura H (2013) Clinical usefulness of the Frontal Assessment Battery at bedside (FAB) for elderly cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 21:857–862

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Miyake A, Friedman NP, Emerson MJ, Witzki AH, Howerter A, Wager TD (2000) The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex “Frontal Lobe” tasks: a latent variable analysis. Cogn Psychol 41:49–100

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Mok VC, Wong A, Yim P, Fu M, Lam WW, Hui AC, Yau C, Wong KS (2004) The validity and reliability of chinese frontal assessment battery in evaluating executive dysfunction among Chinese patients with small subcortical infarct. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 18:68–74

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Moorhouse P, Gorman M, Rockwood K (2009) Comparison of EXIT-25 and the Frontal Assessment Battery for evaluation of executive dysfunction in patients attending a memory clinic. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 27:424–428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Nagata T, Shinagawa S, Ochiai Y, Kada H, Kasahara H, Nukariya K, Nakayama K (2010) Relationship of frontal lobe dysfunction and aberrant motor behaviors in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Int Psychogeriatr 22:463–469

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Oguro H, Yamaguchi S, Abe S, Ishida Y, Bokura H, Kobayashi S (2006) Differentiating Alzheimer’s disease from subcortical vascular dementia with the FAB test. J Neurol 253:1490–1494

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Oshima E, Terada S, Sato S, Ikeda C, Nagao S, Takeda N, Honda H, Yokota O, Uchitomi Y (2012) Frontal assessment battery and brain perfusion imaging in Alzheimer’s disease. Int Psychogeriatr 24:994–1001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Rodrigues GR, Souza CP, Cetlin RS, de Oliveira DS, Pena-Pereira M, Ujikawa LT, Marques W Jr, Tumas V (2009) Use of the frontal assessment battery in evaluating executive dysfunction in patients with Huntington’s disease. J Neurol 256:1809–1815

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Slachevsky A, Villalpando JM, Sarazin M, Hahn-Barma V, Pillon B, Dubois B (2004) Frontal assessment battery and differential diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 61:1104–1107

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Stuss DT, Benson DF (1984) Neuropsychological studies of the frontal lobes. Psychol Bull 95:3–28

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Thabit H, Kennelly SM, Bhagarva A, Ogunlewe M, McCormack PM, McDermott JH, Sreenan S (2009) Utilization of Frontal Assessment Battery and Executive Interview in assessing for dysexecutive syndrome and its association with diabetes self-care in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 86:208–212

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Thalmann B, Spiegel R, Stähelin HB, Brubacher D, Ermini-Fünfschilling D, Bläsi S, Monsch AU (2002) Dementia screening in general practice: optimised scoring for the clock drawing test. Brain Aging 2:36–43

    Google Scholar 

  39. Uchida S, Kawashima R (2008) Reading and solving arithmetic problems improves cognitive functions of normal aged people: a randomized controlled study. Age (Dordr) 30:21–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. West RL (1996) An application of prefrontal cortex function theory to cognitive aging. Psychol Bull 120:272–292

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Wong A, Mok VC, Tang WK, Lam WW, Wong KS (2007) Comparing mattis dementia rating scale–initiation/perseveration subset and frontal assessment battery in stroke associated with small vessel disease. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 29:160–169

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Yamao A, Nagata T, Shinagawa S, Nukariya K, Ochiai Y, Kasahara H, Nakayama K (2011) Differentiation between amnestic-mild cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease using the Frontal Assessment Battery test. Psychogeriatrics 11:235–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Yesavage JA (1988) Geriatric Depression Scale. Psychopharmacol Bull 24:709–711

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Yoshida H, Terada S, Sato S, Kishimoto Y, Ata T, Ohshima E, Honda H, Ishihara T, Kuroda S (2009) Frontal assessment battery and brain perfusion imaging in early dementia. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 27:133–138

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all participants and to Christina Birklbauer, Max Breitwieser, Caroline Martini, Karoline Holzleitner, Nicole Körner, Andreas Major, Philipp Martin, Christoph Neubacher, Christoph Niederstätter, Claudia Pflüglmayer, and Yasemin-Sarah Yasaner for data collection.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Neurology, Medical University, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Thomas Benke, Elfriede Karner & Margarete Delazer

Authors
  1. Thomas Benke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elfriede Karner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Margarete Delazer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Benke.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 31 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Benke, T., Karner, E. & Delazer, M. FAB-D: German version of the Frontal Assessment Battery. J Neurol 260, 2066–2072 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-6929-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-6929-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation