Cognitive impairment and its relation to imaging measures in multiple sclerosis: a study using a computerized...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Radiology

Background:

• Cognitive impairment (CI) is a significant disability in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• The interplay between white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) disease contributes to CI in MS.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing effective CI management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the extent of normal WM and GM disease and CI in MS patients.
• To explore the relationship between specific measures of brain structure integrity and cognitive performance.

Main Methods:

• Cognitive function was assessed in 24 MS patients and 24 healthy volunteers (HVs) using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) battery.
• High-field (3.0-Tesla) MRI was used to measure WM lesions, normal-appearing WM (NAWM) volume, cortical thickness (CTh), and deep GM structure volumes.
• Statistical analyses included ANCOVA and Spearman rank correlation tests.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited worse performance in memory, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed compared to HVs.
• Significant correlations were found between cognitive scores (memory, processing speed, global efficiency) and NAWM volume, CTh, and subcortical normal-appearing GM (NAGM) volume.
• No significant association was observed between cognitive scores and WM focal lesions.

Conclusions:

• Both NAWM and NAGM volumes are significantly associated with cognitive impairment in MS.
• These findings underscore the need for neuroprotective strategies to prevent CI development in MS.
• Developing pharmacological interventions targeting widespread neurodegeneration is essential for preserving cognitive function.