Cognitive Domains Affected in Multiple Sclerosis

Cognitive deficits are a major contributor to disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). For this cross-sectional study, investigators evaluated 1212 patients with MS and 196 healthy controls for isolated memory impairment, isolated information processing speed impairment, and combined deficits. Of the MS patients, 33% had early (<5 years) relapsing-remitting disease, 54% late relapsing-remitting, 5% primary progressive, and 9% secondary progressive diseases.

The authors identified five cognitive profiles: preserved cognition (19%), mild verbal memory/semantic fluency deficits (30%), mild multidomain deficits (20%), severe executive/attention deficits (14%), and severe multidomain deficits (18%). Those with the severe multidomain profile had hig…