Apathy, affective change, decreased processing speed, and gait abnormalities are typically associated with which type of brain dysfunction?

• A. Cortical
• B. Subcortical
• C. Both
• D. None

Answer: (B)

The pattern described reflects problems in subcortical brain networks that connect frontal regions with deep structures like the basal ganglia. Apathy and affective change arise from disruption of frontostriatal circuits that regulate motivation and mood. Processing speed slows because information travels through these subcortical loops, leading to a general psychomotor slowing characteristic of subcortical dysfunction. Gait abnormalities stem from impaired automatic motor control governed by the basal ganglia and their connections to motor planning areas.

In contrast, cortical dysfunction typically shows deficits tied to specific cortical domains, such as language, visuospatial skills, or episodic memory, rather than the broad apathy, slowed processing, and gait changes described here. Therefore, subcortical dysfunction best explains this cluster of symptoms.