Eija Rosti-Otajärvi1, Juhani Ruutiainen2, Heini Huhtala3, Päivi Hämäläinen2. 1. Tampere University Hospital, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, PO Box 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: eija.rosti-otajarvi@pshp.fi. 2. Masku Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, PO Box 15, 21251 Masku, Finland. 3. Tampere University, School of Health Sciences, 33014 Tampere University, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relationship between cognitive impairment and disease course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not well understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether cognitive complaints in different clinical phenotypes and severity stages of MS are associated with differences in the profile of cognitive impairment. METHODS: 196 MS patients (relapsing-remitting RRMS n=138; secondary progressive SPMS n=32; primary progressive PPMS n=26) with perceived cognitive deficits underwent neuropsychological assessment with the brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests (BRBNT). Mood, impact of the disease, and quality of life were evaluated with self-reports. RESULTS: Only minor differences were observed in the cognitive impairment profile of different disease phenotypes and different disease severity stages. RRMS patients performed better only in one cognitive test of the BRBNT, than patients with progressive disease types. When RRMS, SPMS, and PPMS groups were evaluated separately, PPMS showed more pronounced cognitive impairments than RRMS and SPMS. The relationships between cognitive impairment and severity of disability as well as duration of disease were weak. CONCLUSION: MS patients with cognitive complaints tend to have a relatively similar cognitive impairment profile which is not dependent on the disease course and severity.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between cognitive impairment and disease course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not well understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether cognitive complaints in different clinical phenotypes and severity stages of MS are associated with differences in the profile of cognitive impairment. METHODS: 196 MS patients (relapsing-remitting RRMS n=138; secondary progressive SPMS n=32; primary progressive PPMS n=26) with perceived cognitive deficits underwent neuropsychological assessment with the brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests (BRBNT). Mood, impact of the disease, and quality of life were evaluated with self-reports. RESULTS: Only minor differences were observed in the cognitive impairment profile of different disease phenotypes and different disease severity stages. RRMS patients performed better only in one cognitive test of the BRBNT, than patients with progressive disease types. When RRMS, SPMS, and PPMS groups were evaluated separately, PPMS showed more pronounced cognitive impairments than RRMS and SPMS. The relationships between cognitive impairment and severity of disability as well as duration of disease were weak. CONCLUSION: MS patients with cognitive complaints tend to have a relatively similar cognitive impairment profile which is not dependent on the disease course and severity.