Mild cognitive impairment in patients with systemic sclerosis and features analysis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Nervous system damage is an emerging concern in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is increasingly recognized as a potential complication in SSc patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of MCI in SSc patients.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with cognitive dysfunction in SSc.

Main Methods:

• 103 SSc patients and 97 healthy controls were assessed using the Beijing version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BJ).
• Cognitive function, demographic data, and clinical features were compared between groups.
• Associations between clinical variables and MoCA-BJ scores were analyzed.

Main Results:

• SSc patients exhibited significantly lower MoCA-BJ scores compared to healthy controls (24 vs 26, P < 0.001).
• MCI (MoCA-BJ ≤ 25) was diagnosed in 61.2% of SSc patients versus 27.8% of controls.
• SSc patients with MCI showed lower education, reduced serum protein/albumin, and higher ANA positivity.

Conclusions:

• MCI is highly prevalent in SSc patients and warrants attention from rheumatologists.
• Lower education, malnutrition, and elevated ANA positivity are risk factors for cognitive impairment in SSc.
• These findings suggest potential targets for intervention to improve cognitive outcomes in SSc.