Social Cognition in Individuals with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study Using TASIT-S

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Neurology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) can impact social cognition, but research often overlooks progressive forms.
• Social cognition deficits, including Theory of Mind (ToM) and facial affect recognition, are not well-characterized in progressive MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate social cognitive abilities in individuals with progressive MS using a dynamic social cognition task.
• To assess performance on The Awareness of Social Inference Test - Short Form (TASIT-S) in progressive MS.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 15 individuals with progressive MS and 17 healthy controls.
• Participants completed the TASIT-S, comprising subtests for facial affect recognition and ToM.

Main Results:

• The progressive MS group demonstrated impairments across all TASIT-S subtests (Emotion Evaluation, Social Inference - Minimal, Social Inference - Enriched).
• Deficits in social cognition correlated significantly with working memory, learning memory, and verbal IQ in the MS group.

Conclusions:

• Progressive MS is associated with widespread social cognition deficits, as measured by the TASIT-S.
• Social cognitive impairments in progressive MS are linked to broader cognitive abilities, including visuospatial memory and executive functions.