Investigation of comparative nonword repetition performance in multiple sclerosis: Group differences, subtype...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cognitive Science
• Speech and Language Pathology

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease impacting cognitive functions, including phonological working memory (WMp).
• Assessing WMp is crucial for understanding and managing language-cognitive deficits in MS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the performance of individuals with MS on Nonword Repetition (NWR) tasks compared to healthy controls (HC).
• To evaluate the efficacy of NWR tasks in assessing WMp in MS and identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study design was employed, involving individuals with MS and HC groups.
• Nonword Repetition (NWR) tasks of varying syllable lengths were administered to assess NWR accuracy (NWRacc).
• Statistical analyses, including the Mann Whitney U Test, were used to compare NWRacc between groups and across syllable lengths.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in NWRacc were observed between MS subgroups and HC (p < 0.001).
• NWRacc decreased with increasing syllable length in both groups, reflecting heightened cognitive load.
• All MS subtypes exhibited lower NWRacc than HC across all syllable lengths (p < 0.001), with no significant differences found within MS subtypes or between mild and severe MS groups.

Conclusions:

• The NWR test is a sensitive measure for assessing WMp deficits in individuals with MS.
• Findings highlight the utility of NWR tasks in diagnosing language-cognitive challenges associated with MS.
• Tailored intervention strategies are essential to mitigate these challenges and improve outcomes for MS patients.