Relationship Between Anxiety and Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for Treatment

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Anxiety is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) but its cognitive effects are understudied.
• Slowed information processing speed is a key cognitive deficit in MS, impacting verbal learning.
• This study investigated the influence of anxiety on processing speed and verbal learning in MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between anxiety, processing speed, and verbal learning in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
• To determine if anxiety uniquely predicts verbal learning in MS.
• To explore the mediating role of processing speed in the anxiety-verbal learning relationship.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of neuropsychological testing data from 141 adults with a diagnosis of clinically definite MS.
• Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to assess predictors of verbal learning, adjusting for demographic and disability variables.
• Mediation analyses examined the indirect effects between processing speed, verbal learning, and anxiety.

Main Results:

• Both processing speed (β = 0.55) and anxiety (β = -0.34) were significant unique predictors of verbal learning in MS.
• Anxiety had a significant indirect effect on verbal learning mediated by processing speed (ab = -0.31).
• Processing speed also showed a significant indirect effect on verbal learning mediated by anxiety (ab = -0.05).

Conclusions:

• A bidirectional relationship exists between anxiety, processing speed, and verbal learning in multiple sclerosis.
• Anxiety significantly affects cognition in MS and warrants clinical attention.
• Targeting anxiety through interventions may offer a pathway to improve cognitive function in individuals with MS.