The brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests for multiple sclerosis: a preliminary serial study

Abstract

The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N) for MS consisting of the selective reminding, 10/36 spatial recall, symbol digit modalities, paced auditory serial addition (PASAT) and word list generation tests is a sensitive measure of early cognitive impairment in MS patients. We administered it to 19 chronic stable MS patients every 60 days for 120 days to examine variability. The mean coefficient of variation for the tests ranged from 18% to 22%. A significant practice effect was seen in the PASAT results (P < 0.05) using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. These results suggest that cognitive fluctuations analogous to motor fluctuations may occur in MS patients and that the BRB-N may be useful in clinical trials of agents expected to alter cognitive function in MS patients if test-retest variability and practice effects are taken into account. Further study is warranted.

Effect of Interferon-beta-1b on Cognitive Functions in Multiple Sclerosis

“…The neuropsychological test battery was based on the Brief Repeatable Battery-Neuropsychological [5, 6]. In brief, this battery is composed of the following tests: (1) The selective reminding test (SR) measures verbal learning and delayed recall through the presentation of a list of 12 words and 5 subsequent learning trials.…”

Age and disability drive cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis across disease subtypes

“…A neuropsychological evaluation was performed using the Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB) 3 and the Stroop test. 20 The BRB incorporates tests of verbal memory acquisition and delayed recall (Selective Reminding Test (SRT)); visual memory acquisition and delayed recall (10/36 Spatial Recall Test (SPART)); attention, concentration, and speed of information processing (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT); Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)); and verbal fluency on semantic stimulus (Word List Generation (WLG)).…”

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

“…Demographical and clinical data including Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) levels and therapeutic information were collected using a common database shared among the participating Centres. In each Centre, a standardized neuropsychological evaluation was performed by a well-experienced neuropsychologist using the Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB) 17 and the Stroop Test. 18 The BRB is a widely used and extensively validated for patients with MS.…”

“…The BRB includes the Selective Reminding Test (SRT), a test that assesses verbal learning by six learning trials and delayed recall of 12 words; the 7/24 Spatial Recall Test (SPART), a test that assesses visuospatial learning by three consecutive trials and a delayed recall of the position of 10 checkers in a checkerboard; the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), a measure of sustained attention and speed of information processing in which the subject hears single digit numbers and is asked to add each digit to the one preceding it; the SDMT, another measure of sustained attention and speed of information processing in which the subject must associate a pseudorandomized sequence of the symbols with a single digit as quickly as possible, using a key of symbols and digits; and the word list generation (WLG), that explores verbal fluency by asking the subject to produce as many words as possible belonging to a semantic category. 17 The Stroop Test was selected to complement the BRB in order to provide an additional measure of complex attention and executive function. The neuropsychologists involved in the study participated in a common training session in which test administration and scoring procedures were clarified and agreed upon.…”