Nancy D Chiaravalloti1, Nancy B Moore2, John DeLuca3. 1. Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ, USA. 2. Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, USA. 3. Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Neurology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Impairments in new learning and memory are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), negatively impacting everyday life, including occupational and social functioning. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the efficacy of the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) in a progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) sample through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT). METHODS:Thirty (30) individuals with PMS, naïve to the mSMT, were randomized to the treatment or placebo control group. The Treatment Group completed mSMT training twice per week for 5 weeks while the Placebo Group met with the therapist at the same frequency, engaging in non-training-oriented tasks to control for professional contact and disease alterations. RESULTS: The treatment group showed significant improvements in learning compared with the placebo control group, evident on both objective evaluation of new learning and self-report of functioning in daily life. Increased awareness of cognitive deficits was also noted post-treatment. CONCLUSION: These data provide Class I evidence supporting the efficacy of the mSMT in PMS. A behavioral intervention, targeted to specifically strengthen new learning, can significantly improve memory performance in PMS, and this improvement in memory performance is maintained 3 months later.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Impairments in new learning and memory are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), negatively impacting everyday life, including occupational and social functioning. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the efficacy of the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) in a progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) sample through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT). METHODS: Thirty (30) individuals with PMS, naïve to the mSMT, were randomized to the treatment or placebo control group. The Treatment Group completed mSMT training twice per week for 5 weeks while the Placebo Group met with the therapist at the same frequency, engaging in non-training-oriented tasks to control for professional contact and disease alterations. RESULTS: The treatment group showed significant improvements in learning compared with the placebo control group, evident on both objective evaluation of new learning and self-report of functioning in daily life. Increased awareness of cognitive deficits was also noted post-treatment. CONCLUSION: These data provide Class I evidence supporting the efficacy of the mSMT in PMS. A behavioral intervention, targeted to specifically strengthen new learning, can significantly improve memory performance in PMS, and this improvement in memory performance is maintained 3 months later.
Authors: Lauren A Taylor; Jacqueline R Mhizha-Murira; Laura Smith; Kristy-Jane Potter; Dana Wong; Nikos Evangelou; Nadina B Lincoln; Roshan das Nair Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-10-18
Authors: Jessica Podda; Andrea Tacchino; Ludovico Pedullà; Margherita Monti Bragadin; Mario Alberto Battaglia; Giampaolo Brichetto Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2020-10-13 Impact factor: 5.855
Authors: Anthony Feinstein; Maria Pia Amato; Giampaolo Brichetto; Jeremy Chataway; Nancy Chiaravalloti; Ulrik Dalgas; John DeLuca; Peter Feys; Massimo Filippi; Jennifer Freeman; Cecilia Meza; Matilde Inglese; Robert W Motl; Maria Assunta Rocca; Brian M Sandroff; Amber Salter; Gary Cutter Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2020-05-22 Impact factor: 2.474