Contributions
Abstract: 143
Type: Oral
Cognitive impairment is more frequent in progressive MS tan in Relapsing remitting MS patients. Information processing speed, attention, working memory, executive function, and verbal episodic memory represent the most frequently impaired cognitive domains. They may have a negative effect on daily life functioning and are suitable to be treated with cognitive rehabilitation. It is a set of therapeutic services designed to improve cognitive functioning and participation in activities that may be affected by difficulty in one or more cognitive domains. Despite cognitive rehabilitation is widely used in clinical practice, studies raise several concerns. Overall, studies investigating the effects of cognitive rehabilitation have been conducted in RRMS or in mixed MS populations, without subgrouping SPMS and PPMS. Rehabilitation of learning and working memory, attention, and executive functions were most frequently reported. Heterogeneity of treatment regards the type of intervention. Rehacom, other computerized exercises (Cognifit, Happy Neuron), tailored cognitive rehabilitation, memory story technique, enriched environment, generic and extensive cognitive training, fitness and cognitive exergaming are the most frequently used cognitive rehabilitation therapies. The relatively recent introduction of more objective surrogate neuroimaging measures of cognitive rehabilitation (e.g. functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)) in MS studies has suggested that effects of cognitive rehabilitation strategies may be mediated by neuroplasticity activation, which can provide a functional as well as structural basis for any clinical findings. Application of fMRI techniques to the PPMS population is scarce in literature, probably due to the difficulty in recruiting patients with PPMS with relatively preserved cognition, which is a critical requirement for having interpretable fMRI results. Overall, there is lack of data regarding cognitive rehabilitation in PPMS. A specific approach in assessing CI and in designing and administering rehabilitation training for patients with progressive forms of MS is needed.
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose related to this talk
Abstract: 143
Type: Oral
Cognitive impairment is more frequent in progressive MS tan in Relapsing remitting MS patients. Information processing speed, attention, working memory, executive function, and verbal episodic memory represent the most frequently impaired cognitive domains. They may have a negative effect on daily life functioning and are suitable to be treated with cognitive rehabilitation. It is a set of therapeutic services designed to improve cognitive functioning and participation in activities that may be affected by difficulty in one or more cognitive domains. Despite cognitive rehabilitation is widely used in clinical practice, studies raise several concerns. Overall, studies investigating the effects of cognitive rehabilitation have been conducted in RRMS or in mixed MS populations, without subgrouping SPMS and PPMS. Rehabilitation of learning and working memory, attention, and executive functions were most frequently reported. Heterogeneity of treatment regards the type of intervention. Rehacom, other computerized exercises (Cognifit, Happy Neuron), tailored cognitive rehabilitation, memory story technique, enriched environment, generic and extensive cognitive training, fitness and cognitive exergaming are the most frequently used cognitive rehabilitation therapies. The relatively recent introduction of more objective surrogate neuroimaging measures of cognitive rehabilitation (e.g. functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)) in MS studies has suggested that effects of cognitive rehabilitation strategies may be mediated by neuroplasticity activation, which can provide a functional as well as structural basis for any clinical findings. Application of fMRI techniques to the PPMS population is scarce in literature, probably due to the difficulty in recruiting patients with PPMS with relatively preserved cognition, which is a critical requirement for having interpretable fMRI results. Overall, there is lack of data regarding cognitive rehabilitation in PPMS. A specific approach in assessing CI and in designing and administering rehabilitation training for patients with progressive forms of MS is needed.
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose related to this talk