Cognitive profile in multiple sclerosis and post-COVID condition: a comparative study using a unified taxonomy

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroimmunology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Post-COVID condition (PCC) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share overlapping symptoms like cognitive dysfunction and fatigue.
• Pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in MS, including neuroinflammation and autoimmunity, are also suggested in PCC.
• Understanding shared and distinct features is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cognitive phenotypes between large cohorts of patients with PCC and MS.
• To investigate the relationship between fatigue severity and cognitive performance in both conditions.
• To identify potential shared or divergent underlying mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design.
• Inclusion of 218 patients with PCC and 218 with MS, matched for age, sex, and education.
• Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, fatigue and depression evaluation, and categorization using the International Classification of Cognitive Disorders.

Main Results:

• Cognitive profiles of PCC and MS largely overlapped, with attention and processing speed being the most affected domains in both.
• Episodic memory impairment was slightly greater in MS, though with small effect sizes.
• Fatigue severity was higher in PCC, but its correlation with cognitive performance was more pronounced in MS.
• No significant differences in depression severity were observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• PCC and MS present with similar cognitive profiles, highlighting common neurological impacts.
• Fatigue is a more prominent symptom in PCC but shows a stronger association with cognitive deficits in MS.
• Further research into the mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction and fatigue in these conditions is warranted for therapeutic advancements.