Cognitive Decline in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis

To compare cognition in adults with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) and in those with adult-onset MS (AOMS), investigators used the Swedish MS Registry, which included data from 64 clinics. The 5704 participants had a median follow-up of 3 years and 5 Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) scores. For those with POMS (defined as onset before age 18 years), median age at study baseline was 26 years and median age at onset was 16 years. For AOMS, median age at baseline was 38 years and at onset was 30 years.

After adjustments for sex, disease course and duration, disease-modifying drug use, and follow-up duration, SDMT was lower and declined faster for POMS compared with AOMS. The difference was most notable after age 30. Cognitive impair…