Serial neuropsychological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging analysis in multiple sclerosis.
Publication/Presentation Date
8-1-1997
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between cognitive dysfunction and disease burden in multiple sclerosis (MS) during a 1-year period.
DESIGN: The Brief, Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests in Multiple Sclerosis was performed at entrance and 1 year. Patients underwent at least 20 proton density (range, 20-24) and T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans except for stable patients who were scanned monthly. Magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated using computer-automated, 3-dimensional volumetric analysis.
SETTING: A research clinic of a university hospital.
PATIENTS: Forty-four patients with MS of the following disease categories: relapsing-remitting (14), relapsing-remitting progressive (12), chronic progressive (13), and stable (5).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationships between scores on the Brief, Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests in Multiple Sclerosis and 2 MRI measures (total lesion volume and brain to intracranial cavity volume ratio) were assessed using linear regression. These MRI measures were also compared with cognitive status at 1 year using analysis of variance.
RESULTS: Overall, there was no decline in mean cognitive test performance during 1 year. Significant correlations were found between baseline neuropsychological test scores of nonverbal memory, information-processing speed, and attention and both MRI measures. Patients with chronic progressive MS demonstrated the strongest correlations. At 1 year, change in information-processing speed and attention correlated with change in total lesion volume. The mean increase in total lesion volume was 5.7 mL for 4 patients whose cognitive status worsened compared with 0.4 mL for 19 patients who improved and 0.5 mL for 21 patients who remained stable.
CONCLUSIONS: During a 1-year period mean cognitive performance did not worsen. Automated volumetric MRI measures of total lesion volume and brain to intracranial cavity volume ratio correlated with neuropsychological performance, especially in patients with chronic progressive MS. Worsening MRI lesion burden correlated with cognitive decline.
Volume
54
Issue
8
First Page
1018
Last Page
1025
ISSN
0003-9942
Published In/Presented At
Hohol, M. J., Guttmann, C. R., Orav, J., Mackin, G. A., Kikinis, R., Khoury, S. J., Jolesz, F. A., & Weiner, H. L. (1997). Serial neuropsychological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging analysis in multiple sclerosis. Archives of neurology, 54(8), 1018–1025. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1997.00550200074013
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
9267977
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article