The association between cognition and motor performance is beyond structural damage in relapsing-remitting multiple...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Previous research indicates a link between motor and cognitive abilities in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• The role of disease-related brain damage as a common factor underlying both motor and cognitive impairments in MS has not been fully explored.
• This study investigates the relationship between cognition and motor function in MS, considering structural brain damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the association between cognitive function and motor performance in MS patients extends beyond the impact of structural brain damage.
• To explore the interplay between brain lesions, brain volume, and functional/cognitive outcomes in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Main Methods:

• Eighty-one healthy controls and 106 RRMS patients underwent 3.0 T MRI to quantify lesion volumes and brain volumes.
• Functional assessments included the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) and Timed 25-Foot Walk test (T25FW).
• Neuropsychological evaluation utilized the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests, with data analyzed via univariate analyses and hierarchical linear regression.

Main Results:

• Cognitive tests like the Spatial Recall Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test correlated with 9-HPT and T25FW performance in RRMS patients.
• The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) also showed a correlation with 9-HPT.
• Motor function (9-HPT, T25FW) was significantly associated with normalized brain volumes and T2/T1 lesion volumes, with age and gray matter volume predicting T25FW, and age, sex, gray matter volume, and PASAT scores predicting 9-HPT performance.

Conclusions:

• In RRMS patients, impaired information processing speed and executive functions contribute to hand motor dysfunction, independent of structural brain damage.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering both cognitive and motor assessments in clinical evaluations for MS patients.
• Integrating cognitive and motor assessments can provide a more comprehensive understanding of MS impact and guide treatment strategies.