SPMS patients have higher cognitive decline than RRMS patients, study reports

A recent study published in Bentham Open has reported that SPMS patients experience increasingly worse cognitive deficits as compared to RRMS patients.

The objective of this study was to investigate the pattern and severity of cognitive and language impairment in Greek patients with Relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS), relative to control participants. The study was conducted in 27 patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), (N= 15) with RRMS, (N= 12) with SPMS, and (N= 12) healthy controls. All participants were assessed with a flexible comprehensive neuropsychological – language battery of tests that have been standardized in Greece and validated in Greek MS patients. They were also assessed on measures of disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale; FSS) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory – fast screen; BDI-FS).

Results of the study:

The results of the study revealed that groups were well matched on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. The two clinical groups (RRMS; SPMS) did not differ on overall global cognitive impairment but differed in the initial encoding of verbal material, mental processing speed, response inhibition and set-shifting. RRMS patients differed from controls in the initial encoding of verbal material, learning curve, delayed recall of verbal information, processing speed, and response inhibition. SPMS patients differed in all utilized measures compared to controls. Moreover, the researchers noted increased impairment frequency on individualized measures in the progressive SPMS group.

The study concluded that MS patients, irrespective of clinical subtype, have cognitive deficits compared to healthy participants, which become increasingly worse when they convert from RRMS to SPMS. On the contrary, the pattern of impairment remains relatively stable.

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News Source: https://benthamopen.com/FULLTEXT/TONEUJ-12-19

Image Source: https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/2015/04/14/modified-story-memory-technique-msmt-might-be-affected-by-cognitive-dysfunction-in-patients-with-multiple-sclerosis/