title: Attention and memory dysfunctions in mild multiple sclerosis.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. Cognitive dysfunction and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were studied in patients free of physical disability and mildly to moderately disabled patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Disability-free patients (EDSS < or = 1.5; n = 13), mildly to moderately disabled patients (EDSS ranging from 2 to 6; n = 13) and a healthy matched control group (n = 16) were examined with respect to attention, verbal and nonverbal memory and early visual processing (VEPs). Disability-free patients showed mild impairments on phasic alertness and divided attention. Deficits were more pronounced in mildly to moderately disabled patients who were additionally impaired with respect to non-verbal memory. Despite adequate visual acuity, one half of all patients showed abnormal VEP latencies for both eyes at the same time. The findings suggest that cognitive deficits are already present in multiple sclerosis even in the absence of physical disability. Even with normal visual acuity, perceptual impairments should be considered as part of the CNS affection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tinnefeld
authors.forename: Friederike H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Treitz
authors.forename: Claus G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Daum
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Faustmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology