Contributions
Abstract: EP1364
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 7 MS symptoms
During the past years, increasing attention is being paid to operationalize cognitive deficits in MS-patients. Thereby it is generally assumed that affected persons suffer from cognitive decline in the course of the disease. Cognition itself is not a singular ability of the brain but indeed consists of various skills.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate, whether the disease affects cognition in general or whether various aspects of cognitive dysfunction are impaired in particular.
Methods: 123 MS patients have been examined by the The Vienna Test Expert System Traffic, a test system which has been established for testing driving ability skills. It consists of 5 different parts, each one tests an aspect of cognition: reaction time (RT), reactive stress tolerance(DT), visual orientation performance(LVT), attention, concentration (COG), observational ability and skills in gaining an overview(ATAVT). We examined by t-Test if there were any significant differences between the test outcomes. Furthermore, we analyzed if there were any connections between disease duration and cognitive deficits.
Results: The mean age of the 123 patients was 41,2 years (SD =10,7)), 21% were male and 79% female. Mean EDSS was 1,5 (SD = 1,6) and mean disease duration 123,4 months (SD = 102,7). The t-Test revealed that the patients had better test results in the test measuring attention and concentration compared with the other tests. There was a significant difference between attention/concentration and reaction time (t(22) = 7.172, p < .001), visual orientation performance (t(244) = 5.705, p < .001), observational ability (t(237.2) = 3.768, p < .001) and reactive stress tolerance (t(241) = 5.302, p < .001). There was also a significant correlation between disease duration and all kinds of cognitive deficits: disease duration and RT (r = -.22, p < .05), ATAVT (r = -.21, p < .05), LVT (r = -.26, p < .01), DT (r = -.29, p < .01) and COG (r = -.41, p < .01)
Conclusion: In comparison to a normal population, cognitive deficits of the examined MS patients include reaction time, visual orientation performance, observational ability, reactive stress tolerance and skills gaining an overview. In contrast, attention and concentration are not affected. Cognition is not impaired as a whole but in single aspects. Furthermore, disease duration was linked to cognitive decline.
Disclosure: The work was supported by a scientific grant of Novartis Pharma GmbH Deutschland
Abstract: EP1364
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 7 MS symptoms
During the past years, increasing attention is being paid to operationalize cognitive deficits in MS-patients. Thereby it is generally assumed that affected persons suffer from cognitive decline in the course of the disease. Cognition itself is not a singular ability of the brain but indeed consists of various skills.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate, whether the disease affects cognition in general or whether various aspects of cognitive dysfunction are impaired in particular.
Methods: 123 MS patients have been examined by the The Vienna Test Expert System Traffic, a test system which has been established for testing driving ability skills. It consists of 5 different parts, each one tests an aspect of cognition: reaction time (RT), reactive stress tolerance(DT), visual orientation performance(LVT), attention, concentration (COG), observational ability and skills in gaining an overview(ATAVT). We examined by t-Test if there were any significant differences between the test outcomes. Furthermore, we analyzed if there were any connections between disease duration and cognitive deficits.
Results: The mean age of the 123 patients was 41,2 years (SD =10,7)), 21% were male and 79% female. Mean EDSS was 1,5 (SD = 1,6) and mean disease duration 123,4 months (SD = 102,7). The t-Test revealed that the patients had better test results in the test measuring attention and concentration compared with the other tests. There was a significant difference between attention/concentration and reaction time (t(22) = 7.172, p < .001), visual orientation performance (t(244) = 5.705, p < .001), observational ability (t(237.2) = 3.768, p < .001) and reactive stress tolerance (t(241) = 5.302, p < .001). There was also a significant correlation between disease duration and all kinds of cognitive deficits: disease duration and RT (r = -.22, p < .05), ATAVT (r = -.21, p < .05), LVT (r = -.26, p < .01), DT (r = -.29, p < .01) and COG (r = -.41, p < .01)
Conclusion: In comparison to a normal population, cognitive deficits of the examined MS patients include reaction time, visual orientation performance, observational ability, reactive stress tolerance and skills gaining an overview. In contrast, attention and concentration are not affected. Cognition is not impaired as a whole but in single aspects. Furthermore, disease duration was linked to cognitive decline.
Disclosure: The work was supported by a scientific grant of Novartis Pharma GmbH Deutschland