title: Clinical and imaging assessment of cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), grey matter damage is widespread and might underlie many of the clinical symptoms, especially cognitive impairment. This relation between grey matter damage and cognitive impairment has been lent support by findings from clinical and MRI studies. However, many aspects of cognitive impairment in patients with MS still need to be characterised. Standardised neuropsychological tests that are easy to administer and sensitive to disease-related abnormalities are needed to gain a better understanding of the factors affecting cognitive performance in patients with MS than exists at present. Imaging measures of the grey matter are necessary, but not sufficient to fully characterise cognitive decline in MS. Imaging measures of both lesioned and normal-appearing white matter lend support to the hypothesis of the existence of an underlying disconnection syndrome that causes clinical symptoms to trigger. Findings on cortical reorganisation support the contribution of brain plasticity and cognitive reserve in limiting cognitive deficits. The development of clinical and imaging biomarkers that can monitor disease development and treatment response is crucial to allow early identification of patients with MS who are at risk of cognitive impairment.
authors: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors: Maria A
authors: MA
authors: Rocca
authors: Department of Neurofarba, Section of Neurosciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors: Maria P
authors: MP
authors: Amato
authors: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: De Stefano
authors: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Enzinger
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Section of Clinical Neuroscience, VU University Medical Centre, VUmc Multiple Sclerosis Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors: Jeroen J
authors: JJ
authors: Geurts
authors: University and University Children's Hospital Basel, Cognitive Psychology and Methodology and Division of Paediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Iris-K
authors: IK
authors: Penner
authors: Magnetic Resonance Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Rovira
authors: Neuropsychology and Neuroscience, Kessler Foundation Research Center, West Orange, NJ, USA.
authors: James F
authors: JF
authors: Sumowski
authors: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Valsasina
authors: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: filippi.massimo@hsr.it.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Filippi
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests