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Updated: Mar 22, 2026
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Validity of the minimal assessment of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MACFIMS) in the Italian population
Simone Migliore1,2, Anna Ghazaryan3, Ilaria Simonelli3,4
1Clinical Psychology Service, University Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro de Portillo 200, Rome, RM, Italy. s.migliore@unicampus.it.
Abstract:
Cognitive dysfunction involves 40-65 % of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It can be detected in all MS phenotypes from the early stages of the disease, and it tends to progress over time. Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS) has been proved to be the most sensitive and comprehensive battery available for MS cognitive assessment in the English population. In Italy, MACFIMS applicability is limited in everyday clinical practice since the overall validity of this battery in the Italian MS population has never been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to translate/cross-culturally adapt and validate an Italian version of the MACFIMS. A total of 130 MS patients and 60 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled and evaluated with an Italian version of the MACFIMS. All tests discriminated MS patients from HCs; according to the literature, approximately more than half of MS patients (70.8 %) exhibit cognitive impairment. Principal component analysis showed four distinct components: visual-spatial memory/processing speed, working memory, executive functions and verbal memory. Our study is the first to validate an Italian version of the MACFIMS. Several aspects of validity have been demonstrated: criterion and, partially, construct. Future work will investigate the longitudinal course of neuropsychological dysfunction in Italian MS patients using these measures.
Insights
This study validated the Italian version of the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) for assessing cognitive dysfunction in Italian multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The validated tool effectively identified cognitive impairment in 70.8% of MS patients, distinguishing them from healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive dysfunction affects 40-65% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients across all phenotypes, worsening over time.
- The Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS) is a sensitive cognitive assessment tool, but its validity in the Italian MS population was unproven.
- Clinical application of MACFIMS in Italy is hindered by the lack of demonstrated validity in the local MS population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To translate and cross-culturally adapt the MACFIMS for the Italian language.
- To validate the Italian version of the MACFIMS in a cohort of Italian MS patients.
- To assess the applicability and psychometric properties of the Italian MACFIMS in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the MACFIMS.
- Evaluation of 130 Italian MS patients and 60 healthy controls (HCs) using the Italian MACFIMS.
- Statistical analysis including principal component analysis to identify cognitive domains.
Main Results:
- The Italian MACFIMS successfully discriminated between MS patients and HCs.
- Cognitive impairment was identified in 70.8% of Italian MS patients, aligning with existing literature.
- Principal component analysis revealed four key cognitive components: visual-spatial memory/processing speed, working memory, executive functions, and verbal memory.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully validated an Italian version of the MACFIMS, demonstrating criterion and partial construct validity.
- This validated tool is now available for assessing cognitive dysfunction in Italian MS patients.
- Further research is warranted to explore the longitudinal progression of neuropsychological deficits in this population using the Italian MACFIMS.
