Neurocognitive sequelae in African American and Caucasian children with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine domain-specific neurocognitive differences between African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS).


METHODS
An extensive battery of neuropsychological tests was given to each subject, including tests in all major domains of cognitive function. Point-biserial correlations between ethnicity and test performance were computed. Significant correlations were followed up with hierarchical multiple regression analysis, accounting for clinical and demographic variables before examining ethnic differences.


RESULTS
Forty-two patients with POMS including 20 AA and 22 CA subjects were assessed. The cohorts did not differ in age, gender, socioeconomic status, disease duration, disability score, immunoglobulin G index, or number of relapses in the first 2 years of disease. Retaining some of these variables as covariates in the hierarchical regression analysis, the AA cohort performed worse on measures of language (p < 0.001) and complex attention (p < 0.01) than their CA peers.


CONCLUSIONS
AA patients with POMS may be at higher risk for adverse cognitive impact in the areas of language and complex attention. Longitudinal characterization of cognitive pathology is critical for the development of effective intervention strategies to prolong cognitive functioning in POMS cohorts.
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. kross3@uab.edu
K A
KA
Ross
D C
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Schwebel
J
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Rinker
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Ness
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Ackerson
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D007074:Immunoglobulin G