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Published in: Journal of Neurology 2/2024

13-12-2023 | Evoked Potential | Original Communication

Peering further into the mind’s eye: combining visual evoked potential and optical coherence tomography measures enhances insight into the variance in cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis

Authors: Thomas J. Covey, Daniel Golan, Robert Sergott, Jeffrey Wilken, Myassar Zarif, Barbara Bumstead, MariJean Buhse, Olivia Kaczmarek, Glen M. Doniger, Iris-Katharina Penner, Laura M. Hancock, Hans Bogaardt, Marissa A. Barrera, Sarah A. Morrow, Steve Galetta, Mark Gudesblatt

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 2/2024

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Abstract

Background

Spectral Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) have both emerged as potentially useful biomarkers of cognitive decline in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Their combined use may provide additional predictive value for identifying disease impact, progression, and remyelination capacity above-and-beyond what is captured using either approach alone.

Objective

We examined the relationship between OCT/VEP measures and cognitive functioning in 205 PwMS. OCT measures included Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Volume (RNFLV), Papillo-Macular Bundle Volume (PBMV), and Macular Volume (MV). VEP measures included latency of the P100, and inter-ocular latency. Cognitive performance was evaluated across seven separate domains of performance, and for overall cognition, using the NeuroTrax computerized testing battery.

Results

Both OCT and VEP measures were significantly correlated with cognitive performance across several domains. Linear regression models that controlled for the influence of visual acuity revealed (1) that reduced MV was significantly predictive of poorer visual-spatial functioning, and (2) that delayed VEP latency was significantly predictive of performance in global cognitive functioning and visual-spatial functioning, after controlling for multiple comparisons. Among PwMS with normal visual acuity, PwMS with a combination of both relatively low MV and delayed VEP latency tended to have poorer performance in the domains of global, executive, and visual-spatial functioning compared to PwMS with both high MV and normal VEP latency.

Conclusion

Approaches that combine the use of OCT and VEP measures can enhance insight into underlying factors that contribute to variance in cognitive functioning in PwMS.
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Metadata
Title
Peering further into the mind’s eye: combining visual evoked potential and optical coherence tomography measures enhances insight into the variance in cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis
Authors
Thomas J. Covey
Daniel Golan
Robert Sergott
Jeffrey Wilken
Myassar Zarif
Barbara Bumstead
MariJean Buhse
Olivia Kaczmarek
Glen M. Doniger
Iris-Katharina Penner
Laura M. Hancock
Hans Bogaardt
Marissa A. Barrera
Sarah A. Morrow
Steve Galetta
Mark Gudesblatt
Publication date
13-12-2023
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Neurology / Issue 2/2024
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-023-12075-5

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