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Interferon beta 1-b in verbal memory functioning of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
M J Selby1, N Ling, J M Williams
1California State University, San Louis Obispo, USA.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|July 10, 1998
Summary
Interferon Beta 1-b (Betaseron) did not significantly improve verbal memory in multiple sclerosis patients. While treated patients showed slightly higher scores, cognitive functioning in this sample obscured potential drug effects.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect cognitive functions, including verbal memory.
- Interferon Beta 1-b (Betaseron) is a disease-modifying therapy used in MS treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Betaseron on verbal memory functioning in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.
- To compare verbal memory performance between Betaseron-treated MS patients, untreated MS patients, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- 167 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 112 healthy controls participated.
- Verbal memory was assessed using the Memory Assessment Scales and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale verbal subtests.
- Patients were categorized into Betaseron-treated (n=73) and untreated (n=94) groups.
Main Results:
- Betaseron-treated patients did not show significantly better verbal memory or ability compared to untreated patients.
- Treated patients exhibited higher mean scores across verbal memory tests, but differences were not statistically significant.
- MS patients, regardless of treatment, performed significantly worse than controls on specific verbal memory tasks, though scores remained within the non-impaired range.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find a clear effect of Betaseron on verbal memory in this MS cohort.
- Potential benefits of Betaseron on verbal memory may be masked by the overall preserved cognitive status of the outpatient sample.