Wolfgang Köhler1, Martin Fischer2, Peter Bublak3, Jürgen H Faiss4, Frank Hoffmann5, Annett Kunkel6, Michael Sailer7, Matthias Schwab8, Erhard Stadler9, Uwe K Zettl10, Iris-Katharina Penner11. 1. Fachkrankenhaus Hubertusburg, Department of Neurology, 04779 Wermsdorf, Germany. Electronic address: wolfgang.koehler@kh-hubertusburg.de. 2. Fachkrankenhaus Hubertusburg, Department of Neurology, 04779 Wermsdorf, Germany. Electronic address: martin.fischer@sanktgeorg.de. 3. Universitätsklinikum Jena, Department of Neurology, Erlanger Allee 101, 047740 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: peter.bublak@med.uni-jena.de. 4. Asklepios Fachkliniken Brandenburg GmbH, Department of Neurology, Buchholzer Str. 21, 15755 Teupitz, Germany. Electronic address: j.faiss@asklepios.com. 5. Krankenhaus Martha-Maria Halle-Dölau gGmbH, Department of Neurology, Röntgenstraße 1, 06120 Halle, Germany. Electronic address: frank.hoffmann@martha-maria.de. 6. Asklepios Fachkliniken Brandenburg GmbH, Department of Neurology, Buchholzer Str. 21, 15755 Teupitz, Germany. Electronic address: a.kunkel@asklepios.com. 7. Otto-von-Guericke University, Department of Neurology, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: michael.sailer@med.ovgu.de. 8. Universitätsklinikum Jena, Department of Neurology, Erlanger Allee 101, 047740 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: matthias.schwab@med.uni-jena.de. 9. Otto-von-Guericke University, Department of Neurology, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: erhard.stadler@med.ovgu.de. 10. University of Rostock, Department of Neurology, Neuroimmunological Section, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany. Electronic address: uwe.zettl@med.uni-rostock.de. 11. Heinrich Heine University, Medical Faculty, Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: ik.penner@cogito-center.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Memory impairment (MI) is a common symptom of MS. Previous studies were conflicting in respect to the possible existence of early MI and the role of hippocampal atrophy. The objective of this study was to investigate MI and structural MRI correlates in homogenous groups of early and late MS, controlling for a potential information-processing speed (IPS) deficit, and utilizing multiple memory test paradigms. METHODS: 152 individually matched subjects were recruited: early MS (EMS, N = 25, disease duration 1.0 ± 0.8 years), late MS (LMS, N = 52, 16.5 ± 5.2 years), and corresponding controls. Five memory tests were utilized to account for differences in learning material (verbal, visual), encoding (incidental, intentional), and retrieval (free recall, recognition, recurring recognition). Performance was related to IPS, memory-specific (hippocampal volumes), and unspecific MRI measures (T1/T2LL, brain volume, cortical thickness). RESULTS: Memory was impaired across all tests in LMS, but not in EMS. LMS-patients were also significantly impaired in IPS which was correlated with several memory scores. Regression analyses revealed IPS and cortical thickness as predictors for visual MI, and IPS, sex, and left hippocampal volume as predictors for verbal MI. CONCLUSION: Additionally to direct destructions in memory specific tracts such as the hippocampus, memory decline in MS may also be related to a general factor comprising slowed information-processing and global tissue loss.
BACKGROUND:Memory impairment (MI) is a common symptom of MS. Previous studies were conflicting in respect to the possible existence of early MI and the role of hippocampal atrophy. The objective of this study was to investigate MI and structural MRI correlates in homogenous groups of early and late MS, controlling for a potential information-processing speed (IPS) deficit, and utilizing multiple memory test paradigms. METHODS: 152 individually matched subjects were recruited: early MS (EMS, N = 25, disease duration 1.0 ± 0.8 years), late MS (LMS, N = 52, 16.5 ± 5.2 years), and corresponding controls. Five memory tests were utilized to account for differences in learning material (verbal, visual), encoding (incidental, intentional), and retrieval (free recall, recognition, recurring recognition). Performance was related to IPS, memory-specific (hippocampal volumes), and unspecific MRI measures (T1/T2LL, brain volume, cortical thickness). RESULTS: Memory was impaired across all tests in LMS, but not in EMS. LMS-patients were also significantly impaired in IPS which was correlated with several memory scores. Regression analyses revealed IPS and cortical thickness as predictors for visual MI, and IPS, sex, and left hippocampal volume as predictors for verbal MI. CONCLUSION: Additionally to direct destructions in memory specific tracts such as the hippocampus, memory decline in MS may also be related to a general factor comprising slowed information-processing and global tissue loss.
Authors: Arzu C Has Silemek; Jean-Philippe Ranjeva; Bertrand Audoin; Christoph Heesen; Stefan M Gold; Simone Kühn; Martin Weygandt; Jan-Patrick Stellmann Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2021-04-07 Impact factor: 5.038