Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
11:35
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
A correlation between cognitive dysfunction and employment status in multiple sclerosis - a systematic literature
Justyna Wołos1,2, Olga Grodzka3,4, Jan Kochanowski3
1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. justyna.wolos@wum.edu.pl.
Neurologia I Neurochirurgia Polska
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Cognitive impairment significantly impacts employment for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, worsening work ability and independence. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is recommended for assessing cognitive function in MS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease with complex pathogenesis.
- Cognitive impairment (CI) affects 40-70% of MS patients, impacting independence and socioeconomic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the link between cognitive impairment and employment status in MS patients.
- To identify key cognitive domains affected in MS and their relation to vocational outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase databases.
- Adherence to PRISMA guidelines for study selection.
- Inclusion of 37 relevant studies for analysis.
Main Results:
- MS patients demonstrate poorer performance on cognitive tests compared to healthy individuals.
- Worsened cognitive function correlates significantly with unemployment in MS.
- Cognitive impairment can predict future vocational decline in MS patients.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive dysfunction is a key factor in employment status deterioration for MS patients.
- The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is identified as a suitable tool for cognitive assessment in MS.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...