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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Evaluation of multiple sclerosis disability outcome measures using pooled clinical trial data
Myla D Goldman1, Nicholas G LaRocca1, Richard A Rudick1
1From the University of Virginia (M.D.G.), Charlottesville; National Multiple Sclerosis Society (N.G.L.), New York, NY; Biogen (R.A.R., G.P.), Cambridge, MA; Critical Path Institute (L.D.H.), Tucson, AZ; Genentech (P.S.C.), South San Francisco, CA; Independent Neurology Clinical Development Consultant (G.S.F.); Premier Research (A.J.), Wokingham, UK; UCL Institute of Neurology (R.K.), London, UK; Imperial College London and UK Dementia Research Institute (P.M.M.); Johns Hopkins (E.M.M.), Baltimore, MD; New York University School of Medicine (L.J.B.), NY; Wave Life Sciences (M.P.), Cambridge, MA; VU University Medical Center (B.M.J.U.), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Cleveland Clinic (J.A.C.), OH.
Four performance measures, including Timed 25-Foot Walk and Symbol Digit Modalities Test, are effective for multiple sclerosis clinical trials, individually or combined, showing sensitivity and clinical meaningfulness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Trials
- Outcome Measures
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis Outcome Assessments Consortium (MSOAC) analyzed pooled data from 14 clinical trials.
- Data included 12,776 participants with demographics, disease characteristics, EDSS, and SF-36 PCS scores.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate four proposed components of a multidimensional test battery for multiple sclerosis.
- Assess measurement properties, validity, and longitudinal performance of T25FW, 9HPT, LCLA, and SDMT.
Main Methods:
- Pooled data from 12,776 participants across 14 clinical trials.
- Analyzed Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), Low Contrast Letter Acuity (LCLA), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).
- Evaluated individual and combined performance measures against EDSS and SF-36 PCS for sensitivity and clinical meaningfulness.
Main Results:
- Performance measures demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability and valid subgroup differentiation.
- Individual measures T25FW and 9HPT showed lower progression detection rates than EDSS; LCLA and SDMT were similar.
- A multidimensional approach using any of the four measures was more sensitive to progression than EDSS.
- Worsening on performance measures correlated with clinically meaningful SF-36 PCS score decline.
Conclusions:
- The four proposed performance measures are supported for use in clinical trials.
- These measures are effective both individually and when combined into a multidimensional test battery.
- The findings support their utility as study outcome measures in multiple sclerosis research.
