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Assessment of cognitive function and its predictors in patients with multiple sclerosis: a case–control study

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Abstract

Introduction

Cognitive dysfunction can be seen in patients with MS (PwMS) and has been gaining attention in recent years. This study aimed to assess cognitive function and its determinants in PwMS using Addenbrooke Cognitive Assessment Battery (ACE-R).

Material and methods

This case–control study was conducted at an outpatient MS clinic in Istanbul. The sample consisted of 60 consecutive patients with definite MS and 60 matched controls. Cognitive function was evaluated by using the ACE-R. Subjective cognitive function, anxiety, depression, and fatigue were evaluated by validated scales.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 38.8, and the time since diagnosis was nine years. The majority of the patients had relapsing–remitting MS. Compared to age, sex, and education-matched healthy controls, all ACE-R scores, attention/orientation (p = 0.020), memory (p = 0.003), verbal fluency (p = 0.002), language (p = 0.002), visuospatial (p = 0.001), and general cognitive functioning (p < 0.001), were found to be lower in PwMS. The patients obtained the lowest scores in memory and fluency and the highest in the visuospatial domain. Age, education, mobility, subjective cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, depression, and fatigue were associated with cognitive test scores. However, only education, depression, and fatigue remained significant in the multivariable analysis.

Conclusion

This study revealed impaired domains of cognitive functioning and its predictors in PwMS. Understanding cognitive dysfunction and its predictors in PwMS may enable healthcare providers to identify patients who might benefit from interventions to improve cognitive function. Assessment of PwMS at outpatient clinics with a practical cognitive test that does not require special competence can be suggested.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa (Project No: BEK-2017–26529).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Graduate Studies, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey

    Dila Basci

  2. Goztepe Training and Research Hospital Neurology Clinic, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Dila Basci

  3. Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Abidei Hurriyet Cd. 34381 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey

    Zeliha Tulek

Authors
  1. Dila Basci
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Contributions

Concept: ZT; design: ZT; data collection: DB; data analysis: ZT; literature search: DB and ZT; manuscript writing: DB and ZT.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zeliha Tulek.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ethical Board of the Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Training and Research Hospital (30.12.2014, 2014/0178).

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Basci, D., Tulek, Z. Assessment of cognitive function and its predictors in patients with multiple sclerosis: a case–control study. Neurol Sci 44, 1009–1016 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-022-06524-8

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