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08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Anxiety and Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review
Roberto Martin Susini1, Natalia Ciufia1,2, Aldana Lucía Marinangeli1
1From the Demyelinating Diseases Working Group (CUEM), Neurology Division, Ramos Mejía Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
International Journal of MS Care
|March 5, 2025
Summary
Anxiety significantly impacts cognitive functions like memory and processing speed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Understanding this link is crucial for improving quality of life for individuals with MS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently presents with psychiatric symptoms, notably anxiety and depression, affecting disease course and well-being.
- Cognitive deficits, particularly in processing speed and episodic memory, are prevalent in MS patients.
- Existing literature explores the connection between anxiety and cognitive function within the MS population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review quantitative research on the relationship between anxiety symptoms and cognitive variables in individuals with MS.
- To synthesize findings from studies published in Spanish and English.
Main Methods:
- Bibliographic review of literature published between January 2006 and June 2022.
- Focus on quantitative studies investigating anxiety and cognition in MS.
Main Results:
- Most studies indicate a significant association between anxiety and cognitive impairment in MS.
- Anxiety negatively affects information processing speed, learning, memory, attention, working memory, and verbal fluency.
- Some studies reported no significant association, and the influence of depressive symptoms and the bidirectional nature of the anxiety-cognition relationship were noted.
Conclusions:
- Anxiety is demonstrably linked to cognitive impairment in people with MS.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and establish causality between anxiety and cognitive function in this demographic.
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