Contributions
Abstract: P669
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Paediatric MS
Introduction: Pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is a demyelinating disorder occurring in the context of neurodevelopment with unique clinical challenges due to the potential for disease-related cognitive impairment. A brief cognitive screening battery of computer administered measures of processing speed (Cogstate) and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment in MS (BICAMS) detects cognitive impairment in POMS. However, the neuroanatomic correlates of these deficits are incompletely understood. We have sought to define the neuroimaging correlates of deficits identified with a cognitive screening battery in POMS.
Objective: To test the links between white matter integrity and cognitive functioning in pediatric MS patients and matched healthy controls.
Aim: Participants cognitive performance as measured by the BICAMS and Cogstate assessments was compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes.
Methods: Participants with POMS and age-matched healthy controls (HC) completed cognitive screening with Cogstate and the BICAMS along with 64-direction MRI based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Results: The POMS group (n= 15, mean age 17.9±3.2 years) compared to the HC group (n= 21, mean age 17.8±3.3 years) were significantly slower on a composite Cogstate score (p=0.004), but the groups did not significantly differ using a composite BICAMS score (p = 0.10).
The POMS group also presented with increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the thalamus (p=0.01) and reduced FA in the corpus callosum (p=0.05) and temporal lobe white matter (p=0.03) relative to HCs. Controlling for age and sex within groups, the measured slowed processing speed (Cogstate composite) significantly negatively correlated with regional fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum, temporal and occipital lobe white matter, and in the tractography-based uncinate fasciculus in the POMS sample (p=0.002 to 0.025), whereas the reduced verbal learning (RAVLT) was significantly negatively correlated with thalamic FA (p = 0.046). Of these effects, only the relationship between the Cogstate composite and temporal lobe FA was significant in the HCs (p=0.013).
Conclusions: Computer administered measures of cognitive processing speed are particularly sensitive to slowing in POMS and are closely linked to MRI diffusion measures.
Disclosure: The authors report no disclosures.
Abstract: P669
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Paediatric MS
Introduction: Pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is a demyelinating disorder occurring in the context of neurodevelopment with unique clinical challenges due to the potential for disease-related cognitive impairment. A brief cognitive screening battery of computer administered measures of processing speed (Cogstate) and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment in MS (BICAMS) detects cognitive impairment in POMS. However, the neuroanatomic correlates of these deficits are incompletely understood. We have sought to define the neuroimaging correlates of deficits identified with a cognitive screening battery in POMS.
Objective: To test the links between white matter integrity and cognitive functioning in pediatric MS patients and matched healthy controls.
Aim: Participants cognitive performance as measured by the BICAMS and Cogstate assessments was compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes.
Methods: Participants with POMS and age-matched healthy controls (HC) completed cognitive screening with Cogstate and the BICAMS along with 64-direction MRI based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Results: The POMS group (n= 15, mean age 17.9±3.2 years) compared to the HC group (n= 21, mean age 17.8±3.3 years) were significantly slower on a composite Cogstate score (p=0.004), but the groups did not significantly differ using a composite BICAMS score (p = 0.10).
The POMS group also presented with increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the thalamus (p=0.01) and reduced FA in the corpus callosum (p=0.05) and temporal lobe white matter (p=0.03) relative to HCs. Controlling for age and sex within groups, the measured slowed processing speed (Cogstate composite) significantly negatively correlated with regional fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum, temporal and occipital lobe white matter, and in the tractography-based uncinate fasciculus in the POMS sample (p=0.002 to 0.025), whereas the reduced verbal learning (RAVLT) was significantly negatively correlated with thalamic FA (p = 0.046). Of these effects, only the relationship between the Cogstate composite and temporal lobe FA was significant in the HCs (p=0.013).
Conclusions: Computer administered measures of cognitive processing speed are particularly sensitive to slowing in POMS and are closely linked to MRI diffusion measures.
Disclosure: The authors report no disclosures.