Abstract (eng)
Theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to represent one’s own and other persons’ mental states such as beliefs, desires, intentions, feelings, knowledge and needs, and thus reflects a basic skill for social interaction. In this study, cognitive and affective ToM were assessed in 16 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 12 with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PD), 12 with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and were compared with 40 healthy controls matched for age, gender and education. Cognitive and affective ToM were assessed using a cartoon-based ToM task and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. Additionally, the CERAD plus (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) and the Geriatric Depression Scale were applied.
Data analysis revealed a significant impairment in both, cognitive and affective ToM, in the patient group compared with healthy controls, while no differences between AD, PD and FTD patients were found. Moreover, the two ToM tests correlated significantly with each other and with specific neuropsychological parameters.
The findings suggest a general ToM deficit in dementia and our data indicate that ToM tests should be implemented in the diagnostic process.