No evidence of disease activity in multiple sclerosis: Implications on cognition and brain atrophy

The concept of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) has emerged as an important outcome measure for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is not known if maintaining NEDA has a positive impact on cognition or brain atrophy.

To evaluate NEDA status after two years, addressing its implications on cognition and brain atrophy.

Forty-two relapsing-remitting MS patients and 30 controls underwent MRI (3T) and cognitive evaluation (BRB-N). Forty patients performed additional evaluations, after 12 and 24 months. NEDA was defined as the absence of clinical (relapses/disability progression) and MRI activity (new T2/gadolinium-enhancing lesions). Repeated measures and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the contribution of NEDA criteria to GM atrophy.

After two years, 30.8% of the cohort had NEDA. From these, 58.3% still had worsening in ⩾2 cognitive domains. Patients with MRI activity had more cortical thinning and slightly more thalamus volume decrease. Absence of new/enlarging T2 lesions was the only predictor of cortical thinning, subcortical GM and thalamic atrophy rates.

NEDA status was achieved in a small proportion of our cohort, and did not preclude cognitive deterioration. Absence of MRI activity and especially of new/enlarging T2 lesions was associated with less cortical and subcortical GM atrophy.