Cognition in multiple sclerosis: Between cognitive reserve and brain volume

Fenu, Giuseppe; Lorefice, Lorena; Arru, M.; Sechi, Vincenzo; Loi, L.; Contu, F.; Cabras, Federico; Coghe, Giancarlo; Frau, Jessica; Fronza, Marzia; Sbrescia, G.; Lai, Vicky T.; Boi, Marianna; Mallus, S.; Murru, S.; Porcu, A.; Barracciu, Maria Antonietta; Marrosu, M. G.; Cocco, Eleonora

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2018.01.011

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The correlation between assessment results and the ability in tasks in daily activities support the importance of a routinely cognitive function assessment in daily clinical practice. Moreover we found a significant difference in cognitive reserve score between preserved and impaired patients, as in previous study [22], also our data suggested that cognitive reserve could play a role in the complex interplay between structural damage and cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

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Performance in daily activities, cognitive impairment and perception in multiple sclerosis patients and their caregivers

et al. 2018

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BackgroundThe relationship between cognitive assessment results in multiple sclerosis (MS) and performance in daily activities (DAs) remains unclear. Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between cognitive functions (CF) measured by tests, performance in DAs, and the perception of CF in patients and their caregivers (CG) in MS.MethodsThe Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) battery was used to evaluate cognitive status. We created an ad hoc questionnaire (DaQ) to assess performance in DAs not requiring specific motor skills. We used the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ) to measure each patient self-judgment and caregiver’s perception of CF.ResultsForty-nine patients and their caregivers were included in the study. Significant correlations were found between the BICAMS and the DaQ (Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT): r = − 0.48, p < 0.001; California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT): r = − 0.33, p = 0.01; Brief Visual Memory Test (BVMT-R): r = − 0.42; p = 0.002); patients self-judgment (SDMT: r = − 0.38, p = 0.004; CVLT: r = − 0.26, p = 0.03); caregiver perception of patient’s CF (SDMT: r = − 0.52, p < 0.001; CVLT: r = − 0.3, p = 0.01; BVMT-R: r = − 0.42, p = 0.002). The difference in perception between the patients and their caregivers was related to patient age (p = 0.001) and severity of cognitive impairment (p = 0.03).ConclusionsCognitive assessment results show a significant correlation with performance in daily activities and with patients and, especially, caregiver perception of cognitive impairment. These data support the importance of a routine evaluation of cognitive function in MS that includes an anamnestic evaluation of patients, and, when possible, consideration of the caregiver’s point of view.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12883-018-1224-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…We also evaluated the patient’s cognitive reserve using a previously validated tool, the Cognitive reserve index questionnaire (CRIQ) [21] as previous used in studies about cognition in MS [22].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance in daily activities, cognitive impairment and perception in multiple sclerosis patients and their caregivers

et al. 2018

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“…This could be explained by the small sample size of the group with up to three lesions. Significant correlations have been shown between cognitive function and brain volumes, especially gray matter volume . However, a longitudinal study over 17 years showed that atrophy of the corpus callosum was strongly associated with decreased performance in cognitively demanding information‐processing tasks .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Significant correlations have been shown between cognitive function and brain volumes, especially gray matter volume. 22,23 However, a longitudinal study over 17 years showed that atrophy of the corpus callosum was strongly associated with decreased performance in cognitively demanding information-processing tasks. 24 Studies of normalappearing white matter involvement have lent further support to the notion of a disconnection syndrome in patients with MS, which could be the cause of cognitive and physical deficits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognition with magnetic resonance imaging findings and social activities in patients with multiple sclerosis in a Japanese cohort

Niino

Fukazawa

Kira

et al. 2018

Clinical & Exp Neuroim

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Objective We investigated the association of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and social activities with cognition in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods Cognition was evaluated by the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), using previously published data for 156 Japanese patients with MS. The BICAMS results were analyzed with available MRI data, focusing on hyperintense lesions on T2/fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between the BICAMS scores and social activities (i.e. “student,” “employed full time,” “employed part time,” “homemaker” and “unemployed because of MS”). The independent variables were the BICAMS scores, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale, sex, age at examination, education and disease duration. The dependent variable was the “social activity.” Results Analysis of variance showed that patients with MS and more cerebral lesions on MRI had lower scores in all three domains of the BICAMS (the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the second edition of the California Verbal Learning Test and the revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test). Scores of all three domains were also significantly lower in patients with cerebellar lesions. Regarding social activities, patients who were unemployed because of MS had lower BICAMS scores compared with employed patients. However, the BICAMS domain scores did not independently affect the other social activities. Conclusions Higher numbers of cerebral lesions and the presence of cerebellar lesions evaluated by MRI affect cognitive function based on the BICAMS. Cognitive function might affect social activities in patients with MS.

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“…There is extensive evidence that cognitively active lifestyles have an impact on cognitive and neural outcomes in MS. Factors such as premorbid intelligence measures (Sumowski et al, 2009), engagement in reading and writing (Sumowski et al, 2016), education level, premorbid leisure activities and IQ (Amato et al, 2013;Fenu et al, 2018) are associated with higher functioning, Longitudinally, MS patients with more years of education and higher North American Adult Reading Test (NAART) scores (measure of verbal intelligence) showed less cognitive decline over time a five year period (Benedict et al, 2010). These data suggest that cognitively demanding activities improves brain health and ensures longer protection from cognitive impairment in MS (Giovannoni et al, 2016) and, indeed, cognitive intervention in MS patients leads to improved neuropsychological outcomes (Flavia et al, 2010).…”

Section: Evidence For General Cognitive/neural Reserve In Msmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Alzheimer’s Disease: Bilingualism and Other Types of Neurodegeneration

Voits¹,

Pliatsikas²,

Robson³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Bilingualism has been argued to have an impact on cognition and brain structure. Such effects have been reported in healthy children and young adults, but also in ageing adults, including clinical ageing populations. For example, bilingualism may significantly contribute to the delaying of the expression of Alzheimer’s dementia symptoms. If bilingualism plays an ameliorative role against neurodegeneration, it is possible that it would have similar effects for other neurodegenerative disorders, including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Diseases; however, relevant evidence remains limited. Herein, we provide a focused literature review on the effects of these progressive neurological disorders on cognition and brain structure, examine how the affected functions and brain regions map to those suggested to be impacted by bilingualism, and report the limited evidence of the impact of bilingualism on these conditions. We then examine the value of making links across neurodegenerative disorders and bilingualism, proposing that available evidence warrants claims for bilingualism- related effects more generally, with an eye at future research to fill in gaps in our understanding.

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Cognition in multiple sclerosis: Between cognitive reserve and brain volume

Cited by 27 publications

References 31 publications

Performance in daily activities, cognitive impairment and perception in multiple sclerosis patients and their caregivers

Performance in daily activities, cognitive impairment and perception in multiple sclerosis patients and their caregivers

Cognition with magnetic resonance imaging findings and social activities in patients with multiple sclerosis in a Japanese cohort

Beyond Alzheimer’s Disease: Bilingualism and Other Types of Neurodegeneration

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