title: Is speed of processing or working memory the primary information processing deficit in multiple sclerosis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether processing speed or working memory is the primary information processing deficit in persons with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based specialty clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  215 adults with clinically definite MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean demographically corrected T-scores, prevalence rates of impairment and relative risk of impaired Processing Speed and Working Memory Index Scores from the WAIS-WMS III.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deficits in Processing Speed were much more common than Working Memory in all comparisons. This was observed for both relapsing remitting (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) subjects, but accentuated in the latter group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results strongly suggest that the primary information processing deficit in persons with MS is in speed of processing.
authors.affiliation: Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA. jdeluca@kmrrec.org
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeLuca
authors.forename: Gordon J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Chelune
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tulsky
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lengenfelder
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Chiaravalloti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data