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The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Published in: The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Multiple Sclerosis | Research

Assessment of cognitive functions in patients with multiple sclerosis

Authors: Tara A. Al-Falaki, Farqad B. Hamdan, Nawfal M. Sheaheed

Published in: The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

About 40–70% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) develop cognitive impairment (CI) throughout their life. We aim to study the influence of MS on cognitive changes. This is a case–control study of fifty patients with MS who met the revised 2017 Mc Donald Criteria and fifty age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to assess the degree of disability, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scoring system was used to assess cognitive function.

Results

MS patients show low total MoCA score than the controls. Total MoCA scores were lower in patients with CI versus those with intact cognition. CI was higher in those with a longer duration of illness and a high EDSS. MoCA was positively correlated with education level but negatively with EDSS and disease duration.

Conclusion

MoCA scale has optimal psychometric properties for routine clinical use in patients with MS, even in those with mild functional disability. The longer the disease duration and the higher the EDSS, the lower the MoCA score and the higher the education level, the higher the MoCA score. As for the profile of cognitive dysfunction in patients with MS, the domains most frequently failed by the patients were memory, attention, visuospatial learning, and language.
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Metadata
Title
Assessment of cognitive functions in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors
Tara A. Al-Falaki
Farqad B. Hamdan
Nawfal M. Sheaheed
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-021-00383-4

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