Contributions
Abstract: 202
Type: Oral
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable neurodegenerative disease with significant individual differences in the progression of the disease. The pathophysiology of MS results in a plethora of symptoms that span from physical limitations to cognitive and affective disturbances. In fact, recent estimates suggest that nearly 50% of people with MS (PwMS) experience these inter-related symptoms of cognitive and affective limitations. Published data from our laboratory provides evidence for a disproportionate decline in working memory and processing speed in PwMS compared with healthy controls. This decline in cognitive functioning is further accompanied with altered patterns of neural recruitment during these cognitive tasks as well as changes in the intrinsic architecture of the brain, assessed via resting-state functional connectivity. Accompanying these cognitive limitations, affective disturbances are also at the forefront of clinical presentation in PwMS. In here, we have found evidence for higher symptoms of depression and anxiety along with an increase in use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, at least in individuals with shorter disease duration. Given such alarming presentation rates for both cognitive dysfunction and emotion dysregulation, we have been systematically examining the impact of various lifestyle factors in influencing cognitive decline and emotion dysregulation within this population. In this talk, I will present data from our cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, demonstrating the role of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and mindfulness meditation on behavioral and neural plasticity during tasks of cognitive and affective functioning in PwMS. Specifically, we have found evidence for higher levels of physical activity to be associated with higher working memory; increased recruitment of the left middle frontal gyrus during PASAT performance; and increased brain modularity during resting state. We also have evidence demonstrating the role of sedentary behavior in explaining variance in cognitive performance. Finally, our cross-sectional and training studies, provide evidence for mindfulness to be associated with reduced emotion dysregulation; reduced use of maladaptive strategies; and increased affective health. Given the significance of cognitive and affective health for overall quality of life, our studies provide evidence for the critical importance of these lifestyle factors in MS.
Disclosure: This work was supported in part by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society [grant number PP2183 and PP1651].
Abstract: 202
Type: Oral
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable neurodegenerative disease with significant individual differences in the progression of the disease. The pathophysiology of MS results in a plethora of symptoms that span from physical limitations to cognitive and affective disturbances. In fact, recent estimates suggest that nearly 50% of people with MS (PwMS) experience these inter-related symptoms of cognitive and affective limitations. Published data from our laboratory provides evidence for a disproportionate decline in working memory and processing speed in PwMS compared with healthy controls. This decline in cognitive functioning is further accompanied with altered patterns of neural recruitment during these cognitive tasks as well as changes in the intrinsic architecture of the brain, assessed via resting-state functional connectivity. Accompanying these cognitive limitations, affective disturbances are also at the forefront of clinical presentation in PwMS. In here, we have found evidence for higher symptoms of depression and anxiety along with an increase in use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, at least in individuals with shorter disease duration. Given such alarming presentation rates for both cognitive dysfunction and emotion dysregulation, we have been systematically examining the impact of various lifestyle factors in influencing cognitive decline and emotion dysregulation within this population. In this talk, I will present data from our cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, demonstrating the role of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and mindfulness meditation on behavioral and neural plasticity during tasks of cognitive and affective functioning in PwMS. Specifically, we have found evidence for higher levels of physical activity to be associated with higher working memory; increased recruitment of the left middle frontal gyrus during PASAT performance; and increased brain modularity during resting state. We also have evidence demonstrating the role of sedentary behavior in explaining variance in cognitive performance. Finally, our cross-sectional and training studies, provide evidence for mindfulness to be associated with reduced emotion dysregulation; reduced use of maladaptive strategies; and increased affective health. Given the significance of cognitive and affective health for overall quality of life, our studies provide evidence for the critical importance of these lifestyle factors in MS.
Disclosure: This work was supported in part by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society [grant number PP2183 and PP1651].