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The minimal neuropsychological assessment of MS patients (MACFIMS): normative data of the Italian population

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Abstract

Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), and research has emphasized the crucial role of cognitive assessment in disease monitoring. The minimal neuropsychological assessment of MS (MACFIMS) represents one of the neuropsychological batteries most widely used throughout the world. To date, a complete validation, as well as normative values of an alternative form, is lacking in the Italian population, limiting the use of this tool in longitudinal assessment. A total of 200 healthy subjects (127 females and 73 males) were recruited from the community in 8 Italian cities and were evaluated with the MACFIMS at baseline and reassessed with an alternate form of the same battery after 12 months. Regression-based norms that account for demographic influences on test performance were calculated at each time point (baseline and follow-up). The study provides, for the first time, normative values of two forms of the MACFIMS battery for the Italian population. Data application allows clinicians to monitor the performance of cognitive functions over time and to better understand the efficacy of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in clinical practice and research.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Ralph Benedict and NCS Pearson, Inc. for permission to translate and use the California Verbal Learning Test-II ® Alternate Form.

Funding

The study was funded by the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation (FISM).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MS Centre, ASST Crema, Crema, Italy

    Paola Grossi

  2. SOC Neurologia, Ospedale San Giovanni di Dio, AUSL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy

    Emilio Portaccio

  3. Neuropsychology Unit, ASST, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Fabio Bellomi

  4. AO Sant’Andrea, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Valentina Bianchi

  5. ASP Catania, Catania, Italy

    Sabina Cilia

  6. Neurorehabilitation Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy

    Monica Falautano

  7. Department NEUROFARBA, Section Neurosciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Benedetta Goretti

  8. Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy

    Erika Pietrolongo

  9. MS Centre, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Rosa Gemma Viterbo

  10. Italian Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation, Genoa, Italy

    Michele Messmer Uccelli

Authors
  1. Paola Grossi
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  2. Emilio Portaccio
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  4. Valentina Bianchi
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  5. Sabina Cilia
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  7. Benedetta Goretti
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  8. Erika Pietrolongo
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  10. Michele Messmer Uccelli
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study concept and design. Preparation of study materials was carried out by PG and MMU. Data collection was done by PG, FB, VB, SC, MF, BG, EP, and RGV. Statistical analysis was performed by EP. PG and EP drafted the manuscript. MMU provided major revisions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paola Grossi.

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Conflict of interest

PG received a fee from Fondazione Serono for collaboration with the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Registry. EP served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec and Merck Serono, received honoraria for speaking and funding for travel from Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, Merck, and Teva. The remaining authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee for the Region of Liguria (P.R. 549REG2015) in accordance with the principles stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants.

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Grossi, P., Portaccio, E., Bellomi, F. et al. The minimal neuropsychological assessment of MS patients (MACFIMS): normative data of the Italian population. Neurol Sci 41, 1489–1496 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04251-6

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