title: Neuropsychological correlates of multiple sclerosis across the lifespan.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis can adversely affect cognitive functioning whether the disease has an adult or pediatric onset. The research thus far suggests that pediatric MS shares many features with adult MS but is also unique in several respects. One particular characteristic of pediatric MS is that, while physical disability develops more slowly as compared with adult patients, the impact of cognitive deficits in children may be more substantial as they are in a period of life during which they acquire many skills that are needed to transition into independently functioning adults. Our review takes a lifespan approach to MS, comparing and contrasting the neuropsychology (i.e., cognitive, psychological, and psychosocial factors) of these two populations. Understanding how MS manifests across the lifespan has important implications for tailoring assessment and treatment for individuals with MS as they transition from childhood to adulthood, and later life.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, USA jnunan-saah@paloaltou.edu.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nunan-Saah
authors.affiliation: Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, USA.
authors.forename: Selvi R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Paulraj
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waubant
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.affiliation: Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, USAEmmanuelle Waubant.
authors.forename: Rowena G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gomez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006803:Human Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; neuropsychology; pediatric; psychosocial