Contributions
Abstract: P670
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Paediatric MS
Introduction: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is often accompanied by memory impairment. Memory is critical for social-cognitive function, and thus deficits in memory could interfere with the identification of emotional expression.
Aim of Study: We investigated the association between memory function and identification of emotional expression in patients with pediatric-onset MS.
Methods: Fifty-nine pediatric-onset MS patients (mean age=18.7 yr, range: 10-27; mean age at onset=14.4 yr, range: 6-17) and 55 healthy controls (mean age=16.8 yr, range: 8-27) completed the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery. We analyzed accuracy and response time (RT) on tasks of episodic memory (i.e., facial, verbal, and nonverbal memory) and social cognition (i.e., age differentiation, emotion recognition, and emotion differentiation).
Results: Patients did not differ from controls on accuracy nor RT when asked to recognize previously presented verbal or visual information. However, controlling for accuracy, patients were slower to differentiate the age of a face (p =.03) and recognize emotions (p =.04). Higher accuracy and faster RT on memory tasks correlated with better performance on tasks of emotional recognition and emotion differentiation (p< .01) in the MS group; the correlation was especially strong for facial memory (r =.38-.52) as compared with verbal and nonverbal memory.
Conclusions: Pediatric MS patients have difficulty recognizing features of facial expression. Superior performance on tests of memory correlate with better performance on tasks of emotional recognition. Whether difficulty in the ability to recognize the emotional expression of others impacts peer relationships and social engagement remains to be studied.
Disclosure: T. Fabri, R. Datta, J. O´Mahony, E.A. Yeh, RA. Marrie, and C. Till have nothing to disclose. Dr. Amit Bar-Or has participated as a speaker in meetings sponsored by and received consulting fees and/or grant support from: Atara Biotherapeutics, Biogen Idec, Celgene/Receptos, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, MAPI, Medimmune, Merck/EMD Serono, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme. Dr. Arnold reports consultant fees and/or grants from Acorda, Adelphi, Alkermes, Biogen, Celgene, Frequency Therapeutics, Genentech, Genzyme, Hoffman LaRoche, Immune Tolerance Network, Immunotec, MedDay Merck-Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, Receptos, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, MS Society of Canada, International Progressive MS Alliance, and an equity interest in NeuroRx Research. Dr. Banwell serves as a consultant to Novartis, and as a non-remunerated advisor on clinical trials in pediatric MS. This study was generously supported by an operating grant from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
Abstract: P670
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Paediatric MS
Introduction: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is often accompanied by memory impairment. Memory is critical for social-cognitive function, and thus deficits in memory could interfere with the identification of emotional expression.
Aim of Study: We investigated the association between memory function and identification of emotional expression in patients with pediatric-onset MS.
Methods: Fifty-nine pediatric-onset MS patients (mean age=18.7 yr, range: 10-27; mean age at onset=14.4 yr, range: 6-17) and 55 healthy controls (mean age=16.8 yr, range: 8-27) completed the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery. We analyzed accuracy and response time (RT) on tasks of episodic memory (i.e., facial, verbal, and nonverbal memory) and social cognition (i.e., age differentiation, emotion recognition, and emotion differentiation).
Results: Patients did not differ from controls on accuracy nor RT when asked to recognize previously presented verbal or visual information. However, controlling for accuracy, patients were slower to differentiate the age of a face (p =.03) and recognize emotions (p =.04). Higher accuracy and faster RT on memory tasks correlated with better performance on tasks of emotional recognition and emotion differentiation (p< .01) in the MS group; the correlation was especially strong for facial memory (r =.38-.52) as compared with verbal and nonverbal memory.
Conclusions: Pediatric MS patients have difficulty recognizing features of facial expression. Superior performance on tests of memory correlate with better performance on tasks of emotional recognition. Whether difficulty in the ability to recognize the emotional expression of others impacts peer relationships and social engagement remains to be studied.
Disclosure: T. Fabri, R. Datta, J. O´Mahony, E.A. Yeh, RA. Marrie, and C. Till have nothing to disclose. Dr. Amit Bar-Or has participated as a speaker in meetings sponsored by and received consulting fees and/or grant support from: Atara Biotherapeutics, Biogen Idec, Celgene/Receptos, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, MAPI, Medimmune, Merck/EMD Serono, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme. Dr. Arnold reports consultant fees and/or grants from Acorda, Adelphi, Alkermes, Biogen, Celgene, Frequency Therapeutics, Genentech, Genzyme, Hoffman LaRoche, Immune Tolerance Network, Immunotec, MedDay Merck-Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, Receptos, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, MS Society of Canada, International Progressive MS Alliance, and an equity interest in NeuroRx Research. Dr. Banwell serves as a consultant to Novartis, and as a non-remunerated advisor on clinical trials in pediatric MS. This study was generously supported by an operating grant from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.