Visual-cognitive processing deficits in pediatric multiple sclerosis

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Smerbeck ◽  
J Parrish ◽  
D Serafin ◽  
EA Yeh ◽  
B Weinstock-Guttman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Intellectual Ability ◽  
Disease Characteristics ◽  
Confrontation Naming ◽  
General Intellectual Ability ◽  
Neuropsychological Assessment Battery ◽  
And Control

Background: Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) can suffer significant cognitive deficits. This study investigates the sensitivity and validity in pediatric MS of two visual processing tests borrowed from the adult literature, the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMTR) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Objective: To test the hypothesis that visual processing is disproportionately impacted in pediatric MS by comparing performance with that of healthy controls on the BVMTR and SDMT. Methods: We studied 88 participants (43 MS, 45 controls) using a neuropsychological assessment battery including measures of intelligence, language, visual memory, and processing speed. Patients and demographically matched controls were compared to determine which tests are most sensitive in pediatric MS. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the MS and control groups on BVMTR Total Learning ( t (84) = 4.04, p < 0.001, d = 0.87), BVMTR Delayed Recall ( t (84) = 4.45, p < 0.001, d = 0.96), and SDMT ( t (38) = 2.19, p = 0.035, d = 0.69). No significant differences were found between groups on confrontation naming or general intellectual ability. Validity coefficients exploring correlation between BVMTR, SDMT, and disease characteristics were consistent with the adult literature. Conclusions: This study found that BVMTR and SDMT may be useful in assessing children and adolescents with MS.

Visual delayed memory in ADHD children

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S445-S446
Author(s):  
S. Kiselev
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Recall Condition ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Adhd Children ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Neuropsychological Assessment Battery ◽  
And Control

It was shown that children with ADHD have deficit in cognitive abilities. Particularly, in our previous research we have revealed that children with ADHD have weakness have deficit in memory for faces and for names in delayed recall condition.The goal of this research was to examine the hypothesis that children with ADHD have weakness in visual memory in delayed recall condition.The experimental group included 19 children with ADHD at age 6–7 years. The control group included 19 typically developing children. The children from experimental and control group were matched for IQ, gender and age.Children from both groups were assessed with visual memory subtest from Luria's neuropsychological assessment battery. This subtest is designed to assess the ability to perform the visual memory for objects in immediate and delayed conditions. Two-way ANOVA was used to reveal group differences in reproducing the objects in two conditions.We have not revealed significant differences between children from experimental and control group in the reproducing the objects in immediate condition. However, the interaction of condition type and group was significant (P ≤ 0.05). ADHD children were less successful in reproducing the objects in delayed condition.In view of the obtained results, it can be assumed that children with ADHD have specific deficit in memory domain – weakness in delayed memory.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Acute Stimulant Ingestion and Neurocognitive Performance in Healthy Participants

2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Powers
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Attention Deficit Disorder ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Efficiency Index ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
Neurocognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Efficiency ◽  
And Control

Context Concussion management has become an area of great concern in athletics, and neurocognitive tests, such as Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), are commonly used as management tools. Given the restrictive nature of current management plans, anecdotal concerns have been raised about athletes trying to cheat the assessments and return to participation sooner. Stimulants have been shown to improve neurocognitive measures similar to those used in ImPACT. Therefore, they could possibly improve performance during baseline and postinjury testing. Objective To examine the effects of a supplement containing stimulants on ImPACT performance. Design Crossover study. Setting Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants A total of 5 men (age = 20.6 ± 1.5 years, height = 176.3 ± 9.6 cm, mass = 76.9 ± 18.6 kg) and 7 women (age = 20.6 ± 1.1 years, height = 162.9 ± 7.8 cm, mass = 60.9 ± 8.2 kg) with no histories of physician-diagnosed head injury, learning disability, or attention-deficit disorder. Intervention(s) Participants were assessed under supplement (5.5 g of Jacked 3D, which contains caffeine and 1,3-dimethylamylamine), placebo, and control conditions separated by 1 week. Main Outcome Measure(s) I compared ImPACT composite scores for verbal and visual memory, visual motor speed, reaction time, impulse control, and a cognitive-efficiency index under each of the 3 conditions and assessed them 30 minutes after ingestion. Results I observed a difference when comparing reaction times, as the participants reacted faster during the supplement condition (0.53 ± 0.03 seconds) than during the placebo (0.55 ± 0.03 seconds) and control (0.55 ± 0.03 seconds) conditions (F2,22 = 4.31, P = .03). A difference also was observed for the cognitive-efficiency index, as participants scored higher during the supplement condition (0.49 ± 0.09) than during the placebo (0.41 ± 0.10) and control (0.41 ± 0.12) conditions (F2,22 = 4.07, P = .03). Conclusions Stimulant ingestion 30 minutes before testing resulted in improved memory, visual processing speed, and reaction time. However, the improvements were relatively nominal, and the question of clinical importance remains. Thus, it is unclear if stimulant ingestion would affect the return-to-participation progression.

scholarly journals Effects on Cognition of Stereotactic Lesional Surgery For the Treatment of Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Jahanshahi ◽  
Socorro Pieter ◽  
Sundus H. Alusi ◽  
Catherine R. G. Jones ◽  
Scott Glickman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Intellectual Ability ◽  
Control Group ◽  
And Control ◽  
State Examination ◽  
Larger Sample ◽  
Surgical Group

Objective:To assess the effect of stereotactic lesional surgery for treatment of tremor in multiple sclerosis on cognition.Methods:Eleven patients (3 males, 8 females) with multiple sclerosis participated in the study. Six subjects comprised the surgical group and five the matched control group. All patients were assessed at baseline and three months using a neuropsychological test battery that included measures of intellectual ability, memory, language, perception and executive function.Results:There were no significant differences between the surgical and control groups and no change from pre to post testing except for a decline in scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), WAIS-R Digit Span and Verbal Fluency in the surgical group.Conclusions:The results indicate that stereotactic lesional surgery does not result in major cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis. However, the decline in MMSE scores, digit span and verbal fluency require further investigation in a larger sample.

Acute and chronic synaptic pathology in multiple sclerosis gray matter

2021 ◽  
pp. 135245852110221
Author(s):  
Marco Vercellino ◽  
Stella Marasciulo ◽  
Silvia Grifoni ◽  
Elena Vallino-Costassa ◽  
Chiara Bosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Axonal Loss ◽  
Strong Indication ◽  
Synaptic Loss ◽  
Synaptic Density ◽  
Synaptic Pathology ◽  
Gabaergic Synapses ◽  
And Control

Objectives: To investigate the extent of synaptic loss, and the contribution of gray matter (GM) inflammation and demyelination to synaptic loss, in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue. Methods: This study was performed on two different post-mortem series of MS and control brains, including deep GM and cortical GM. MS brain samples had been specifically selected for the presence of active demyelinating GM lesions. Over 1,000,000 individual synapses were identified and counted using confocal microscopy, and further characterized as glutamatergic/GABAergic. Synaptic counts were also correlated with neuronal/axonal loss. Results: Important synaptic loss was observed in active demyelinating GM lesions (−58.9%), while in chronic inactive GM lesions, synaptic density was only mildly reduced compared to adjacent non-lesional gray matter (NLGM) (−12.6%). Synaptic loss equally affected glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. Diffuse synaptic loss was observed in MS NLGM compared to control GM (−21.2% overall). Conclusion: This study provides evidence, in MS brain tissue, of acute synaptic damage/loss during active GM inflammatory demyelination and of synaptic reorganization in chronically demyelinated GM, affecting equally glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. Furthermore, this study provides a strong indication of widespread synaptic loss in MS NLGM also independently from focal GM demyelination.

scholarly journals Determinants of therapeutic lag in multiple sclerosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 135245852098130
Author(s):  
Izanne Roos ◽  
Emmanuelle Leray ◽  
Federico Frascoli ◽  
Romain Casey ◽  
J William L Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Expanded Disability Status Scale ◽  
Disability Progression ◽  
Delayed Onset ◽  
Disease Characteristics ◽  
Disability Status ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Patient Subgroups

Background: A delayed onset of treatment effect, termed therapeutic lag, may influence the assessment of treatment response in some patient subgroups. Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the associations of patient and disease characteristics with therapeutic lag on relapses and disability accumulation. Methods: Data from MSBase, a multinational multiple sclerosis (MS) registry, and OFSEP, the French MS registry, were used. Patients diagnosed with MS, minimum 1 year of exposure to MS treatment and 3 years of pre-treatment follow-up, were included in the analysis. Studied outcomes were incidence of relapses and disability accumulation. Therapeutic lag was calculated using an objective, validated method in subgroups stratified by patient and disease characteristics. Therapeutic lag under specific circumstances was then estimated in subgroups defined by combinations of clinical and demographic determinants. Results: High baseline disability scores, annualised relapse rate (ARR) ⩾ 1 and male sex were associated with longer therapeutic lag on disability progression in sufficiently populated groups: females with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) < 6 and ARR < 1 had mean lag of 26.6 weeks (95% CI = 18.2–34.9), males with EDSS < 6 and ARR < 1 31.0 weeks (95% CI = 25.3–36.8), females with EDSS < 6 and ARR ⩾ 1 44.8 weeks (95% CI = 24.5–65.1), and females with EDSS ⩾ 6 and ARR < 1 54.3 weeks (95% CI = 47.2–61.5). Conclusions: Pre-treatment EDSS and ARR are the most important determinants of therapeutic lag.

scholarly journals Patient’s point of view on the use of telemedicine in multiple sclerosis: a web-based survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doriana Landi ◽  
Marta Ponzano ◽  
Carolina Gabri Nicoletti ◽  
Gaia Cola ◽  
Gianluca Cecchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Chronic Medical Conditions ◽  
Socioeconomic Conditions ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Disease Characteristics ◽  
Degree Of Disability

AbstractRestrictions in the access to healthcare facilities during COVID-19 pandemic have raised the need for remote monitoring of chronic medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In order to enable the continuity of care in these circumstances, many telemedicine applications are currently tested. While physicians’ preferences are commonly investigated, data regarding the patients’ point of view are still lacking. We built a 37 items web-based survey exploring patients’ propensity, awareness, and opinions on telemedicine with the aim to evaluate the sustainability of this approach in MS. Analysing 613 questionnaires out of 1093 that were sent to persons with MS followed at the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Tor Vergata University, Rome, we found that more than half of respondents (54%) were open to having a televisit. Propensity toward telemedicine significantly depended on having a higher income (p = 0.037), living farther from the center (p = 0.038), using computer and tablet (p = 0.010) and using the Internet for other remote activities (p < 0.001), conversely it was not influenced by any specific disease characteristics (i.e. degree of disability). The main advantages and disadvantages of televisit reported by participants were respectively saving time (70%) and impossibility to measure physical parameters (71%). Although the majority of respondents are in favour of televisit, so far this approach is restricted to those displaying better socioeconomic conditions and higher familiarity with technology. Implications of the study are that telemedicine platforms should be better tailored to patients’ demands in order to spread the use of telemedicine, to enhance usability and to increase patients’ adherence.

scholarly journals Views of the Future of Partners of People with Multiple Sclerosis Who Attended a Lifestyle Modification Workshop: A Qualitative Analysis of Perspectives and Experiences

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Sandra L. Neate ◽  
Keryn L. Taylor ◽  
Nupur Nag ◽  
George A. Jelinek ◽  
Steve Simpson-Yap ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Lifestyle Modification ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Interpretive Phenomenology ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
The Future ◽  
Partner Perceptions ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) often experience uncertainty and fear about their futures. Partners of PwMS may share their concerns and experience fears about their own futures, limitations on their lives, ability to work, and becoming a carer. For PwMS, modification of lifestyle-related risk factors has been associated with improved health outcomes. For PwMS who attended residential lifestyle modification workshops (RLMW), sustained improved health outcomes have been demonstrated. Whether improved outcomes for PwMS who engage with lifestyle modification translate to improved partner perceptions of the future, is yet to be explored. We explored the perspectives of partners of PwMS who had attended a RLMW and the impact that the person with MS’s illness and their engagement with lifestyle modification had on their partners’ views of the future. Analysis of 21 semi-structured interviews used a methodology informed by Heidegger’s Interpretive Phenomenology. Three themes emerged: ‘uncertainty’, ‘planning for the future’ and ‘control, empowerment and confidence’. Subthemes included MS and lifestyle modification being a catalyst for positive change; developing a sense of control and empowerment; and hope, optimism and positivity. Lifestyle modification may provide benefits, not only to PwMS, but also to their partners, and should be considered part of mainstream management of MS.

scholarly journals Reduction in circulating vitamin D binding protein in patients with multiple sclerosis

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhila Maghbooli ◽  
Abolfazl Omidifar ◽  
Tarlan Varzandi ◽  
Tayebeh Salehnezhad ◽  
Mohammad Ali Sahraian
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Causative Role ◽  
Vitamin D Binding Protein ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Current Case ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background In this study, we aimed to determine the risk association between vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) polymorphism in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a MS biobank and the difference in VDBP serum levels in MS patients who were recently diagnosed. Method The current case-control study was performed on 296 MS patients and 313 controls. Thereafter, two common missense VDBP polymorphisms, named rs7041and rs4588, were evaluated in all the participants. Serum levels of vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein were assessed in 77 MS patients who were diagnosed since one year ago and in 67 healthy people who were matched in terms of age and sex. Result The frequency distributions of VDBP genotypes and alleles of SNP rs7041 and rs4588 were observed to be similar in both the MS and control groups (p > 0.05). The VDBP haplotypes, as Gc2/Gc2, Gc1/Gc1, and Gc1/Gc2, were found to be similar in the MS and control groups (p > 0.05). In subgroup analysis, circulating VDBP was lower in MS patients (Ln-VDBP (μgr/ml): 3.64 ± 0.91 vs. 5.31 ± 0.77, p = 0.0001) even after adjusting for vitamin D levels, body mass index, and taking vitamin D supplement. There was no significant association between VDBP haplotypes and vitamin D levels in the two groups. Conclusion The present study suggested an association between lower levels of circulating VDBP and multiple sclerosis in newly diagnosed patients. However, the VDBP causative role in the development of MS is still unclear, so it needs more studies.

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