[Information processing speed and influential factors in multiple sclerosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the information processing speed and the influential factors in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.


METHODS
A total of 36 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 21 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and 50 healthy control subjects from Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University between April 2010 and April 2012 were included into this cross-sectional study.Neuropsychological tests was conducted after the disease had been stable for 8 weeks, including information processing speed, memory, executive functions, language and visual perception.Correlation between information processing speed and depression, fatigue, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were studied.


RESULTS
(1)MS patient groups demonstrated cognitive deficits compared to healthy controls.The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (control group 57±12; RRMS group 46±17; SPMS group 35±10, P<0.05) and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) (control group 85±18; RRMS group 77±20; SPMS group 57±20, P<0.05) impaired most.SPMS patients were more affected compared to patients with RRMS subtypes, and these differences were attenuated after control for physical disability level as measured by the EDSS scores.MS patients, especially SPMS subtype, were more severely impaired than control group in the verbal learning test, verbal fluency, Stroop C test planning time, while visual-spatial function and visual memory were relatively reserved in MS patients.(2) According to the Pearson univariate correlation analysis, age, depression, EDSS scores and fatigue were related with PASAT and SDMT tests (r=-0.41--0.61, P<0.05). Depression significantly affected the speed of information processing (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Impairment of information processing speed, verbal memory and executive functioning are seen in MS patients, especially in SPMS subtype, while visual-spatial function is relatively reserved.Age, white matter change scales, EDSS scores, depression are negatively associated with information processing speed.
Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
M L
ML
Zhang
E H
EH
Xu
H Q
HQ
Dong
J W
JW
Zhang
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D056344:Executive Function; D005221:Fatigue; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests