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Visual-cognitive processing deficits in pediatric multiple sclerosis

A M Smerbeck1, J Parrish, D Serafin

  • 1Department of Neurology, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.

Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|February 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Visual processing tests, the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMTR) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), effectively identified cognitive deficits in children with multiple sclerosis (MS). These tools show promise for assessing pediatric MS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with significant cognitive impairments.
  • Visual processing deficits are a common concern in children with MS.
  • The sensitivity of adult cognitive tests in pediatric MS requires validation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMTR) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) in identifying cognitive deficits in pediatric MS.
  • To compare the performance of children with MS to healthy controls on visual processing tasks.
  • To determine if visual processing is disproportionately affected in pediatric MS.

Main Methods:

  • A neuropsychological assessment battery was administered to 88 participants (43 with MS, 45 controls).
  • The study included measures of intelligence, language, visual memory, and processing speed.
  • Demographically matched patients and controls were compared to assess test sensitivity.

Main Results:

  • Statistically significant differences were observed between MS and control groups on BVMTR Total Learning and Delayed Recall, and the SDMT.
  • No significant differences were found in confrontation naming or general intellectual ability between groups.
  • Validity coefficients for BVMTR and SDMT correlated with disease characteristics, aligning with adult MS literature.

Conclusions:

  • The BVMTR and SDMT demonstrate utility in assessing cognitive function in children and adolescents with MS.
  • These visual processing tests are potentially valuable tools for clinicians managing pediatric MS.
  • Further research can explore the application of these tests in longitudinal studies of pediatric MS progression.
Abstract

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