scholarly journals Two Year Progression of Working Memory Impairments In Early Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Appraisal of Working Memory Profiles And Measurement Sensitivity

Author(s):  
Meaghan Clough ◽  
Jade Bartholomew ◽  
Owen White ◽  
Joanne Fielding

Abstract Working memory (WMem) impairments are a devastating symptom of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) that manifest as distinct profiles depending upon the type of impairment. It is unknown what WMem impairment profiles occur in early MS and how best to diagnose and measure their progression.88 participants (63 early relapsing-remitting MS, 25 healthy controls) were reviewed annually for two years (baseline, +1 year, +2 years) and completed five WMem tasks: oculomotor (OM) n-back-visual spatial sketchpad; digit-span forwards-phonological loop; California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT)-episodic buffer; digit-span backwards- central executive; symbol digit modalities test (SDMT)-cognitive processing speed. 65% of RRMS patients exhibited visual-spatial WMem impairments followed by 32% for episodic, 30% phonological loop, 24% central executive, 11% cognitive processing speed. These manifested alone (51%) or in combination (48%), with combined impairments the best marker of general WMem impairment. Significant progression in visual-spatial impairments was found for 24% of RRMS patients, with the OM n­-back maintaining sensitivity to general WMem impairment and progression. No other WMem subcomponent progressed or task maintained sensitivity. The results of this study provides crucial knowledge for the creation of interventions to treat WMem impairment in early RRMS, providing key targets for treatment and endpoints for determining efficacy.

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 795-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph HB Benedict ◽  
Stanley Cohan ◽  
Sharon G Lynch ◽  
Katherine Riester ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), with cognitive processing speed being the most frequently affected domain. Objective: Examine the effects of daclizumab beta versus intramuscular (IM) interferon (IFN) beta-1a on cognitive processing speed as assessed by Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Methods: In DECIDE, patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) (age: 18–55 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score 0–5.0) were randomized to daclizumab beta ( n = 919) or IM IFN beta-1a ( n = 922) for 96–144 weeks. SDMT was administered at baseline and at 24-week intervals. Results: At week 96, significantly greater mean improvement from baseline in SDMT was observed with daclizumab beta versus IM IFN beta-1a ( p = 0.0274). Significantly more patients treated with daclizumab beta showed clinically meaningful improvement in SDMT (increase from baseline of ⩾3 points ( p = 0.0153) or ⩾4 points ( p = 0.0366)), and significantly fewer patients showed clinically meaningful worsening (decrease from baseline of ⩾3 points ( p = 0.0103)). Odds representing risk of worsening versus stability or improvement on SDMT were significantly smaller for daclizumab beta ( p = 0.0088 (3-point threshold); p = 0.0267 (4-point threshold)). In patients completing 144 weeks of treatment, the effects of daclizumab beta were generally sustained. Conclusion: These results provide evidence for a benefit of daclizumab beta versus IM IFN beta-1a on cognitive processing speed in RRMS. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01064401 (Efficacy and Safety of BIIB019 (Daclizumab High Yield Process) Versus Interferon β 1a in Participants With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (DECIDE)): https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01064401 .


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 938-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay I. Berrigan ◽  
Jo-Anne LeFevre ◽  
Laura M. Rees ◽  
Jason Berard ◽  
Mark S. Freedman ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Relative Consequence Model proposes multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have a fundamental deficit in processing speed that compromises other cognitive functions. The present study examined the mediating role of processing speed, as well as working memory, in the MS-related effects on other cognitive functions for early relapsing-remitting patients. Seventy relapsing-remitting MS patients with disease duration not greater than 10 years and 72 controls completed tasks assessing processing speed, working memory, learning, and executive functioning. The possible mediating roles of speed and working memory in the MS-related effects on other cognitive functions were evaluated using structural equation modeling. Processing speed was not significantly related to group membership and could not have a mediating role. Working memory was related to group membership and functioned as a mediating/intervening factor. The results do not support the Relative Consequence Model in this sample and they challenge the notion that working memory impairment only emerges at later disease stages. The results do support a mediating/intervening role of working memory. These results were obtained for early relapsing-remitting MS patients and should not be generalized to the broader MS population. Instead, future research should examine the relations that exist at other disease stages. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–12)


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-211
Author(s):  
Shawna Abel ◽  
Irene Vavasour ◽  
Lisa Eunyoung Lee ◽  
Poljanka Johnson ◽  
Nathalie Ackermans ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (8) ◽  
pp. 1567-1572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob J. Sosnoff ◽  
Swathi Balantrapu ◽  
Lara A. Pilutti ◽  
Brian M. Sandroff ◽  
Steven Morrison ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 798-805
Author(s):  
Brian M. Sandroff ◽  
Robert W. Motl

AbstractObjective:There is accumulating evidence regarding the beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) on cognitive processing speed in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, one overarching limitation of this research is that researchers have not recruited samples who have the actual problem of being studied (i.e., cognitive processing speed impairment). This study examined associations between device-measured PA and cognitive processing speed in a large sample of persons with MS overall and between those with and without cognitive processing speed impairment.Method:Three hundred eighty-five persons with MS underwent the oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and wore an accelerometer for 7 days for PA measurement. We divided the overall sample into subsamples with (n = 140) and without (n = 245) cognitive processing speed impairment based on age, sex, and education-adjusted SDMT Z-scores.Results:After controlling for age and disability status, higher levels of device-measured PA were significantly associated with faster cognitive processing speed overall, and the association was significantly stronger among persons with MS who presented with cognitive processing speed impairment.Conclusions:This examination provides initial cross-sectional support for informing the development of PA interventions as a possible approach for managing MS-related cognitive processing speed impairment. This highlights the importance of developing purposefully designed trials involving PA interventions for targeting cognitive processing speed as a primary end point among persons with MS with impaired cognitive processing speed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt Michalczyk ◽  
Nadine Malstädt ◽  
Maria Worgt ◽  
Tanja Könen ◽  
Marcus Hasselhorn

In this study, we investigated working memory structure and measurement invariance of working memory in children between 5 and 12 years. In a sample of 1,669 children, we administered a battery of 12 computer-based working memory subtests. We found the same tripartite structure of working memory with a phonological loop, a visual-spatial sketchpad, and a central executive in the age groups 5–6 years, 7–9 years, and 10–12 years; interrelations of the latent factors were invariant across the age groups. Only the relationships between the phonological loop and the central executive were weaker in the 5- to 6-year-olds than in the older age groups. The results corroborate the tripartite working memory model developed by Baddeley (1986) and show that the functional relationships between working memory components are mostly invariant through childhood. In addition, the findings indicate that future research should focus on extending the model by a fourth factor representing inhibition.


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