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Updated: May 10, 2026
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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.
Background:
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, that impact disease progression and quality of life. Cognitive impairment, particularly in processing speed and episodic memory, is common in MS. There are several studies studying the relationship between anxiety and cognition in the population with MS. This study reviews that literature.
Methods:
This bibliographic review covers publications in Spanish and English from January 2006 to June 2022. It focuses on quantitative investigations of the relationship between anxiety symptoms and cognitive variables in people with MS.
Results:
A majority of studies found an association between anxiety and cognition in people with MS. Anxiety significantly affects information processing speed, learning, memory, attention, working memory, and verbal fluency in people with MS. However, some studies find no association. The impact of depressive symptoms and the bidirectional relationship between anxiety and cognition are highlighted.
Conclusions:
Anxiety in people with MS is associated with cognitive impairment. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and establish causal relationships between anxiety and cognition in this population.
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