Contributions
Abstract: 227
Type: Oral
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
tBackground: Cognitive impairment (CI) affects 40-65 % of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and has negative impact on the subject everyday functioning. There is, however, little information on whether factors associated with an increased likelihood to develop the disease are also relevant to MS-related CI.
Objective: to assess correlates of CI in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients, including environmental and lifestyle factors that are currently recognized as risk factors for the disease.
Methods: We included RR patients referred to our MS Centre with a neuropsychological assessment performed within the last three years, using the Rao"s brief repeatable battery and the Stroop test. CI was defined as the failure of > three tests. Premorbid IQ was calculated through the Italian version of the National Adult Reading Test. Potential risk factors were assessed through a semi-structured questionnaire. In this analysis, we focused on body mass index (BMI), vitamin D supplementation, comorbidities, smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake, history of brain trauma, psychiatric disease and family history of dementia. The relationship between the above variables and the subject cognitive status was assessed through multivariable linear regression analysis and Spearman correlation analysis.
Results: 90 RR MS patients were analysed (65 women, age 45.9 +/-11.6 years, EDSS 2.13+/- 1.3). CI was detected in 25 (27.8%) subjects. Cognitively impaired compared with cognitively preserved patients were older, had lower premorbid IQ (p < 0.03) and tended to have longer disease duration and higher EDSS scores (p< 0.07). Higher daily caffeine intake was related to lower number of test failed (Spearman rho= -0.230, p=0.03). In the multivariable analysis, the only significant predictors of CI were older age (B=0.333, p=0.001) and the presence of type 1 diabetes (B=0.374, p< 0.001).
Conclusions: in our MS sample, CI was associated with the subject premorbid IQ, clinical and demographic features, as well as diabetes and a few lifestyle factors. Further analyses on a larger sample are in progress to assess a wider range of potential risk factors.
Disclosure:
Dr. Isabella Righini: received research support from Novartis
Dr. Claudia Niccolai: nothing to disclose
Dr. Benedetta Goretti: nothing to disclose
Dr. Marta Giannini has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec; received speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec and Genzyme; received research support from Teva
Dr. Badia Bahia Hakiki: has served on scientific advisory boards for Novartis; received speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec and TEVA; received research support from Teva
Dr. Luisa Pastò: received research support from BIogen Idec
Dr. Lorenzo Razzolini: received research support from Novartis
Dr. Emilio Portaccio has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec, Merck Serono and Genzyme;received speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec, Teva, Novartis and Genzyme; received research support from Merk Serono
Prof. Maria Pia Amato has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec, Merck Serono; received speaker´s honoraria and research support from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Almirall, Teva and Genzyme.
Abstract: 227
Type: Oral
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
tBackground: Cognitive impairment (CI) affects 40-65 % of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and has negative impact on the subject everyday functioning. There is, however, little information on whether factors associated with an increased likelihood to develop the disease are also relevant to MS-related CI.
Objective: to assess correlates of CI in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients, including environmental and lifestyle factors that are currently recognized as risk factors for the disease.
Methods: We included RR patients referred to our MS Centre with a neuropsychological assessment performed within the last three years, using the Rao"s brief repeatable battery and the Stroop test. CI was defined as the failure of > three tests. Premorbid IQ was calculated through the Italian version of the National Adult Reading Test. Potential risk factors were assessed through a semi-structured questionnaire. In this analysis, we focused on body mass index (BMI), vitamin D supplementation, comorbidities, smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake, history of brain trauma, psychiatric disease and family history of dementia. The relationship between the above variables and the subject cognitive status was assessed through multivariable linear regression analysis and Spearman correlation analysis.
Results: 90 RR MS patients were analysed (65 women, age 45.9 +/-11.6 years, EDSS 2.13+/- 1.3). CI was detected in 25 (27.8%) subjects. Cognitively impaired compared with cognitively preserved patients were older, had lower premorbid IQ (p < 0.03) and tended to have longer disease duration and higher EDSS scores (p< 0.07). Higher daily caffeine intake was related to lower number of test failed (Spearman rho= -0.230, p=0.03). In the multivariable analysis, the only significant predictors of CI were older age (B=0.333, p=0.001) and the presence of type 1 diabetes (B=0.374, p< 0.001).
Conclusions: in our MS sample, CI was associated with the subject premorbid IQ, clinical and demographic features, as well as diabetes and a few lifestyle factors. Further analyses on a larger sample are in progress to assess a wider range of potential risk factors.
Disclosure:
Dr. Isabella Righini: received research support from Novartis
Dr. Claudia Niccolai: nothing to disclose
Dr. Benedetta Goretti: nothing to disclose
Dr. Marta Giannini has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec; received speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec and Genzyme; received research support from Teva
Dr. Badia Bahia Hakiki: has served on scientific advisory boards for Novartis; received speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec and TEVA; received research support from Teva
Dr. Luisa Pastò: received research support from BIogen Idec
Dr. Lorenzo Razzolini: received research support from Novartis
Dr. Emilio Portaccio has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec, Merck Serono and Genzyme;received speaker´s honoraria from Biogen Idec, Teva, Novartis and Genzyme; received research support from Merk Serono
Prof. Maria Pia Amato has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec, Merck Serono; received speaker´s honoraria and research support from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Almirall, Teva and Genzyme.