Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
11:35
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
58.9K
The Symbol Digit Modalities Test as sentinel test for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis
J Van Schependom1, M B D'hooghe, K Cleynhens
1Department of Neurology, Center for Neurosciences, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Faculte de Psychologie et des Sciences de l"Education, Mons, Belgium.
European Journal of Neurology
|May 23, 2014
Summary
The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) effectively screens for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This fast, low-cost test aids in detecting cognitive decline in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment (CI) affects approximately 50% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, impacting daily functioning.
- CI occurs across all MS stages and shows weak correlations with disease duration or disability scores.
- Current neuropsychological tests for CI are often time-consuming and costly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) as a screening tool for cognitive impairment in MS.
- To assess the SDMT's ability to predict outcomes from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed neuropsychological data from 359 MS patients.
- Utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to assess SDMT performance against the Neuropsychological Screening Battery for MS (NSBMS).
- Compared SDMT performance with other cognitive tests and included covariates in logistic regression models.
Main Results:
- The SDMT demonstrated high sensitivity (0.91) at 0.60 specificity, indicating its potential as a sentinel test for CI in MS.
- SDMT performance surpassed individual tests within the NSBMS.
- An optimal SDMT cutoff score of 40 was identified, excluding patients with potential practice effects.
Conclusions:
- The SDMT is a valuable, accessible tool for identifying cognitive impairment in MS patients.
- Its ease of use, low cost, and speed facilitate its integration into routine clinical practice for early CI detection.
