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Maffezzini S, Pucci V, Riccardi A, Montemurro S, Puthenparampil M, Perini P, Rinaldi F, Gallo P, Arcara G, Mondini S. Clinical Profiles in Multiple Sclerosis: Cognitive Reserve and Motor Impairment along Disease Duration. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:708. [PMID: 37753986 PMCID: PMC10525733 DOI: 10.3390/bs13090708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
(i) Background: Cognitive impairment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been studied in relation to certain clinical variables (e.g., motor disability and disease duration) and lifestyle factors such as cognitive reserve (CR). However, only very few studies have considered the interaction of clinical variables and cognitive reserve in preserving the integrity of the neuropsychological profile. In this paper, we hypothesised that a higher level of CR might predict good cognitive efficiency by modulating the clinical outcome of the disease. (ii) Methods: A sample of 100 participants with MS (age range 30-74), was recruited and assessed remotely with a questionnaire to measure CR and a cognitive screening test. Data were analysed through generalized additive models. (iii) Results: We found that the model analysing the interaction between CR and disease duration, and between CR and motor disability, was able to explain a significant percentage of cognitive performance. In particular, higher levels of CR predicted a better cognitive performance despite a long disease duration, unless the motor disability was severe. (iv) Conclusion: This study highlights the crucial role of CR in modulating cognitive efficiency in people with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Maffezzini
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University-Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.R.); (M.P.); (P.P.); (F.R.); (P.G.)
| | - Veronica Pucci
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Human Inspired Technology Centre (HIT), University of Padua, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Alice Riccardi
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University-Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.R.); (M.P.); (P.P.); (F.R.); (P.G.)
| | | | - Marco Puthenparampil
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University-Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.R.); (M.P.); (P.P.); (F.R.); (P.G.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Perini
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University-Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.R.); (M.P.); (P.P.); (F.R.); (P.G.)
| | - Francesca Rinaldi
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University-Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.R.); (M.P.); (P.P.); (F.R.); (P.G.)
| | - Paolo Gallo
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University-Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.R.); (M.P.); (P.P.); (F.R.); (P.G.)
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Arcara
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, 30126 Venice, Italy; (S.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Sara Mondini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Human Inspired Technology Centre (HIT), University of Padua, 35122 Padova, Italy
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Ziccardi S, Pizzini FB, Guandalini M, Tamanti A, Cristofori C, Calabrese M. Making Visible the Invisible: Automatically Measured Global and Regional Brain Volume Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:bioengineering10010041. [PMID: 36671613 PMCID: PMC9855175 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In multiple sclerosis (MS), the transition from relapsing-remitting to the secondary-progressive phase is characterized by a progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA), resulting in physical disability accumulation and invisible symptoms, i.e., fatigue and cognitive impairment (CI). These symptoms are related to neurodegenerative processes and have been correlated with MRI measures of brain atrophy only at a group level; however, the application in clinical practice of atrophy-based measurements for single-patient evaluation is yet to be fully investigated. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the association between brain atrophy, measured with easy-to-use automatic software, and the "invisible" MS symptoms of cognition and fatigue. A total of 69 MS patients were included in the study; cognitive impairment and fatigue (FSS) (in addition to neurological disability, EDSS) were assessed and correlated with brain volumes calculated using the automated software QyScore® which is validated for single-patient use in the clinical setting. Results showed that the cognitive status was accurately reflected by measures of atrophy, with a sensitivity of up to 90%. CI patients showed a lower volume compared to cognitively normal patients in the whole brain (p = 0.017), gray matter (p = 0.042), insula (p = 0.035), cerebellum (p = 0.008), and limbic lobe (p = 0.049). FSS was associated with temporal lobe (r = -0.37, p = 0.013) and insular (r = -0.36, p = 0.019) volumes. The volumes of the same regions were also associated with EDSS. The global/regional atrophy results, assessed with automatic and easy-to-use software, correlated with cognitive and fatigue symptoms, thus supporting the clinical application in routine patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Ziccardi
- Neurology Section, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Benedetta Pizzini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.B.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Maddalena Guandalini
- Neurology Section, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Agnese Tamanti
- Neurology Section, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Cecilia Cristofori
- Neurology Section, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Calabrese
- Neurology Section, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.B.P.); (M.C.)
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A Retrospective Exploratory Analysis on Cardiovascular Risk and Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040502. [PMID: 33923390 PMCID: PMC8071566 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Cardiovascular comorbidities have been associated with cognitive decline in the general population. Objectives. To evaluate the associations between cardiovascular risk and neuropsychological performances in MS. Methods. This is a retrospective study, including 69 MS patients. For all patients, we calculated the Framingham risk score, which provides the 10-year probability of developing macrovascular disease, using age, sex, diabetes, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and cholesterol levels as input variables. Cognitive function was examined with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), including the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). Results. Each point increase of the Framingham risk score corresponded to 0.21 lower CVLT-II score. Looking at Framingham risk score components, male sex and higher total cholesterol levels corresponded to lower CVLT scores (Coeff = −8.54; 95%CI = −15.51, −1.57; and Coeff = −0.11; 95%CI = −0.20, −0.02, respectively). No associations were found between cardiovascular risk and SDMT or BVMT-R. Conclusions. In our exploratory analyses, cardiovascular risk was associated with verbal learning dysfunction in MS. Lifestyle and pharmacological interventions on cardiovascular risk factors should be considered carefully in the management of MS, given the possible effects on cognitive function.
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