Contributions
Abstract: 223
Type: Oral
Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and has a large impact on quality of life. Decreases in information processing speed are most common, although almost all cognitive domains can be affected. While cognitive impairment appears to be most severe in progressive MS phenotypes, it has even been reported in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Unfortunately, the underlying (histo)pathological mechanism leading to cognitive impairment remains unclear. Earlier studies have reported rather poor correlations with conventional imaging measures, such as lesion volumes. Recent studies, using more advanced structural and functional brain imaging techniques, have been more successful. These studies have led towards the concept of “functional reorganization” and pushed the field towards a more network-based perspective on cognitive impairment in MS. Understanding the balance between compensatory mechanisms and the continuous loss of network efficiency in the MS brain appears to be crucial.
Disclosure: Dr. Schoonheim receives research support from the Dutch MS Research Foundation, grant number 13-820, and has received compensation for consulting services or speaker honoraria from ExceMed, Genzyme, Novartis and Biogen.
Abstract: 223
Type: Oral
Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and has a large impact on quality of life. Decreases in information processing speed are most common, although almost all cognitive domains can be affected. While cognitive impairment appears to be most severe in progressive MS phenotypes, it has even been reported in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Unfortunately, the underlying (histo)pathological mechanism leading to cognitive impairment remains unclear. Earlier studies have reported rather poor correlations with conventional imaging measures, such as lesion volumes. Recent studies, using more advanced structural and functional brain imaging techniques, have been more successful. These studies have led towards the concept of “functional reorganization” and pushed the field towards a more network-based perspective on cognitive impairment in MS. Understanding the balance between compensatory mechanisms and the continuous loss of network efficiency in the MS brain appears to be crucial.
Disclosure: Dr. Schoonheim receives research support from the Dutch MS Research Foundation, grant number 13-820, and has received compensation for consulting services or speaker honoraria from ExceMed, Genzyme, Novartis and Biogen.