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The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Cognitive impairment in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis is detected by the Brief International Cognitive
Leigh E Charvet1, Michael Shaw1, Ariana Frontario2
1Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center, Department of Neurology, NYU Langone Medical Center, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
Insights
Cognitive impairment is common in pediatric multiple sclerosis. Both BICAMS and Cogstate assessments effectively identify cognitive deficits, with Cogstate tasks showing high sensitivity for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is a significant challenge in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS).
- Early identification and monitoring of cognitive deficits are crucial for timely intervention in POMS.
- Brief, repeatable cognitive assessments are needed for outpatient settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sensitivity of two brief, repeatable cognitive assessment approaches for POMS.
- To compare the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) with Cogstate timed information processing measures.
- To determine the suitability of these assessments for clinical practice and multicenter studies.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-nine participants with POMS and 66 healthy controls (HC) were assessed.
- The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) was administered.
- Timed information processing measures from the computer-based Cogstate assessment were used.
Main Results:
- Both BICAMS and Cogstate demonstrated strong agreement in detecting cognitive impairment.
- The detection rate for impairment was 26% with BICAMS and 27% with Cogstate.
- Two specific Cogstate tasks were identified as the most sensitive individual measures.
Conclusions:
- The BICAMS and Cogstate timed processing measures are practical and sensitive tools for cognitive screening in POMS.
- These standardized approaches facilitate early identification and management of cognitive issues in pediatric multiple sclerosis.
- Both assessment methods are suitable for routine clinical use and multicenter research in POMS.
Background:
Cognitive impairment is a common and troubling feature of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS). Brief cognitive assessment in the outpatient setting can identify and longitudinally monitor cognitive involvement so that early intervention is possible.
Objectives:
The goal of this study was to measure the sensitivity of two cognitive assessment approaches that are brief, repeatable, and suitable for clinical practice and for multicenter investigation.
Methods:
Participants with POMS ( n = 69) were consecutively evaluated as part of outpatient neurologic visits and compared to healthy control participants (HC, n = 66) using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) approach and timed information processing measures from Cogstate, a computer-based assessment.
Results:
There was strong agreement in the detection rate of impairment between both assessments, with 26% for the BICAMS and 27% for Cogstate. Two of the Cogstate tasks were the most sensitive individual measures.
Conclusion:
Both the BICAMS and Cogstate timed processing measures offer practical, sensitive, and standardized approaches for cognitive screening assessment in POMS.
