title: Cognitive rehabilitation in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Cognitive impairment can be detected in a sizeable proportion of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It involves memory, complex attention, information processing speed, executive functions, linguistic abilities, and intelligent quotient. It has a great impact on school, everyday and social activities, and significantly progresses overtime in the great majority of the subjects. These findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive and systematic assessment of MS-related cognitive difficulties in pediatric cases. Moreover, despite the acknowledged relevance of cognitive impairment in this age range, specific interventions for pediatric MS are lacking. As for rehabilitative strategies, there is some evidence of efficacy in other diseases, in particular brain trauma, tumor, and stroke. The development of effective rehabilitative strategies tailored to the needs of young MS patients is a priority for future research in the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. portilio@tin.it
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Portaccio
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goretti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zipoli
authors.forename: Bahia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hakiki
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pastò
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Razzolini
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Amato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests