Cognitive functioning in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Cognitive deficits occur in children with multiple sclerosis. Comprehensive treatment planning should involve recognition that they may require academic accommodations for their education.

Patients with paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis are at higher risk of cognitive impairment in adulthood: An Italian collaborative study

“…2 In this context, it is important to note that the subgroup of POMS patients with CI also presented higher disability levels although not by a large magnitude, whereas previous studies reached heterogeneous conclusions about the association of physical disability with cognitive dysfunction in patients with POMS. 8,10,12 It must be noted, however, that the AOMS patients in this sample are significantly older than POMS patients, and when stratifying by age group, the EDSS level remained consistently higher in patients with POMS ( Figure 1). In previous prognostic studies, POMS patients appeared to reach irreversible EDSS milestones with a delay of nearly 10 years of disease duration when compared with AOMS patients although these irreversible levels of disability were achieved at a younger age in POMS.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] Additionally, in POMS subjects, there is accumulating evidence of involvement of linguistic faculties 1,6 and lower intellectual efficiency in terms of intelligence quotient (IQ), particularly in those with younger age at MS onset. 7 An early MS disease onset can have a negative influence in school achievements and overall quality of life, [8][9][10][11] but it is unclear if it could lead to an increased risk for CI in later life. 3 Some studies suggest a negative impact of relapses, disease duration and physical disability in the cognitive performance of patients with POMS, 8,9,12 but these issues remain controversial.…”

“…7 An early MS disease onset can have a negative influence in school achievements and overall quality of life, [8][9][10][11] but it is unclear if it could lead to an increased risk for CI in later life. 3 Some studies suggest a negative impact of relapses, disease duration and physical disability in the cognitive performance of patients with POMS, 8,9,12 but these issues remain controversial. 10,11 There is little information about the long-term cognitive outcome in patients with POMS.…”

Recovery From Central Nervous System Acute Demyelination in Children

“…Children with ADEM had the longest hospital stays, whereas children with ON had the shortest hospital stays ( Severe deficits in $1 feature of vision, motor, bladder and bowel function, or cognition were detected at ADS onset in 133 (47.0%) of 283 children, whereas 51 (18.0%) children had $1 moderate deficit, and 79 (27.9%) children had at least 1 mild deficit (Supplemental Fig 3A). Twenty (7.1%) children had a normal examination at study enrollment (days from onset, median [range]: 9 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]); all had at least 1 deficit at onset verified according to records review of their presenting examination.…”

Diffusion Tensor Analysis of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Clinically Isolated Syndromes

“…[1][2][3] Children with MS accumulate significant disability at an early age, 2,4 experience more frequent relapses than those with adultonset MS, 5 and demonstrate significant cognitive deficits. 6,7 These findings, along with high T2 lesion load at the time of diagnosis, 8 suggest that significant pathologic damage is present in pediatric MS.…”