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Toward an Automatic Assessment of Cognitive Dysfunction in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients Using Eye
Cecilia E García Cena1, David Gómez-Andrés2, Irene Pulido-Valdeolivas3
1Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial, Centre for Automation and Robotics, ETSIDI-CAR, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28012 Madrid, Spain.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 11, 2022
Summary
Eye movement abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients suggest cognitive changes, but lack a consistent pattern. Vertical movements and saccade latencies were notably impaired, indicating potential for eye tracking as a complementary cognitive assessment tool.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is a significant challenge in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) inadequately represents cognitive deficits.
- Eye movements involve extensive neural networks crucial for cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate eye movement patterns in relapsing-remitting MS patients.
- To assess the potential of eye tracking as a complementary measure for cognitive status in MS.
- To explore correlations between eye movement abnormalities and clinical disability (EDSS) or disease duration.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 41 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 43 healthy controls.
- Utilized a conventional gaze tracker to measure eye movements.
- Analyzed parameters including prosaccades, antisaccades, and smooth pursuit.
Main Results:
- MS patients exhibited impaired vertical eye movements compared to horizontal.
- Increased latencies were observed in prosaccade and antisaccade tests.
- Smooth pursuit was compromised, requiring more corrective movements (p<0.01).
- No significant correlation was found between eye movement variables and EDSS or disease duration.
Conclusions:
- MS patients display altered eye movement behaviors consistent with cognitive changes.
- The heterogeneity of white matter lesions in MS leads to diverse patterns of eye motor impairment.
- Eye tracking shows promise as a complementary tool for assessing cognitive status in MS, despite the lack of a uniform abnormality pattern.
