title: Cognitive impairment differs between neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: To compare the frequency and pattern of cognitive impairment (CI) between patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  
  A total of 82 NMOSD patients, 58 MS patients, and 45 healthy controls (HCs) underwent a neuropsychological assessment.
  
  
  
  CI was observed in 29% of NMOSD and 50% of MS patients (p < 0.001); CI was considered present if a patient scored lower than the fifth percentile compared with HCs in at least three domains. A lower frequency of CI was consistently found when CI was indicated by at least two failed tests (p < 0.001). MS patients performed worse than did NMOSD patients on verbal learning and verbal and visual memory tests. Levels of education and depression and the interval from disease onset to treatment were associated with a negative influence on cognition in patients with NMOSD.
  
  
  
  CI in patients with NMOSD may be not as common as in patients with MS. MS patients exhibited severe impairment, particularly on learning and memory tests, compared with NMOSD patients. Differential prevalence and patterns of CI between NMOSD and MS patients suggest that the two diseases have different mechanisms of brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kichang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Hye
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: AeRan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joung
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Clinic, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Seung
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Biometric Research Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sooin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Biometric Research Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jungnam
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Kyun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea hojinkim@ncc.re.kr.
authors.forename: Ho Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Neuromyelitis optica; cognitive aspects; multiple sclerosis