[Brain atrophy and cognitive disorder in multiple sclerosis]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system causing severe disability via the progressive damage of white matter. Beyond physical signs cognitive dysfunction might be present as well. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and characteristics of brain atrophy and cognitive alterations. Significant cortical and subcortical atrophy was found on brain MRI of 30 MS patients included in this study comparing to healthy controls. Abnormal findings were detected in more than 60% of patients using a cognitive test battery. Generally, verbal abstraction, visuospatial orientation, attention, short-term memory was impaired and the psychomotor speed was decreased, even in the early stage of the disease. Depression-related complaints were found in 57% of this population. The Kurtzke scale, the atrophy of corpus callosum and widening of 3rd ventricle and Sylvian fissures were related to impaired cognitive performances. The authors would like to call attention to the early cognitive deficit and the need of treatment in MS.