ECTRIMS eLearning

Abstract: EP1544

Type: Poster Sessions

Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology

Introduction: Fatigue is one of the most frequent and interfering symptoms in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and it has physical and cognitive manifestations. Cognitive fatigue (CF), is difficult to be quantitatively assessed and can be differently explained: due to an extreme punctual cognitive effort or due to maintained long-term extenuating effort. Previous research has suggested PASAT 3” as a measure of cognitive fatigue dividing the test in two halves and comparing both performances.
Objectives: To assess if a new measure of PASAT 3” can be used as a more accurate measure of CF using the first and the last 15 items of the test.
Methods: This is an observational, multicenter, case-control study with PwMS and healthy controls (HC) of the same age and educational level. MS performed a neuropsychological evaluation as part of the clinical assistance routine to define the cognitive profile: no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild (MCI) and moderate cognitive impairment (ModCI). As CF measure we selected the first 15 items (15F) from PASAT3” and compare them with the last 15 items (15L). We considered hits and dyads responses.
Results: 165 PwMS, 71% women with a duration of the disease of 9,9 years and EDSS of 2,2. 50 HC, 58% men showed with similar age (PwMS M=39,8; HC M=36,9) and years of education (PwMS M=14,5; HC M=14,6). HC produced more hits (M=10,6; SD=3,2; p< .012) and dyads (M=9,4; SD=4,4; p< .033) at 15L than PwMS (hits M=9,2; SD=3,4 and dyads M=7,9; SD=4,4), with no difference at 15F. When considering cognitive profile, all presented a decrement of both hits (NCI 15F M=12,6 vs 15L M=9,8; MCI 15F M=11,1 vs 15L M=9,3; ModCI 15F M=10 vs 15L M=7,7) and dyads (NCI 15F M=11,8 vs 15L M=8,6; MCI 15F M=10,2 vs 15L M=7,8; ModCI 15F M=8,5 vs 15L M=6,5).
Conclusion: This 15-15 PASAT analysis seems to be a good alternative measure for cognitive fatigue that discriminate patients and controls. This model focus on the first and last items of PASAT as we suggest that they might better reflect cognitive effort. Analysis according to cognitive impairment showed that as cognitive decline progresses, the number of correct answers in the last part of the test might suggest a higher rate of cognitive fatigue associated.
Disclosure: This study was not privately funded.

• Y. Higueras received honoraria and/or travel grants from Roche, Novartis, Merck, Gencyme, Bayer, Biogen and/or TEVA.
• A. Meldaña-Rivera received travel grants from Novartis, Merck, Gencyme and/or Roche
• H. Goicochea-Briceño received honoraria and/or travel grants from Roche, Novartis, Almirall, Merck, Gencyme, Bayer, Biogen and/or TEVA
• J. M. García-Domínguez received honoraria and/or travel grants from Roche, Novartis, Almirall, Merck, Gencyme, Bayer, Biogen and/or TEVA
• A. Lozano-Ros received honoraria and/or travel grants from Roche, Novartis, Almirall, Merck, Gencyme, Bayer, Biogen and/or TEVA
• J.P. Cuello received honoraria and/or travel grants from Roche, Novartis, Almirall, Merck, Gencyme, Bayer, Biogen and/or TEVA
• M.L. Martínez-Ginés received honoraria and/or travel grants from Roche, Novartis, Almirall, Merck, Gencyme, Bayer, Biogen and/or TEVA
• F. Garcia-Vaz received speaker honoraria and/or travel grants from Novartis, Biogen, Genzyme, Teva, Merck and/or Roche.
• V. Meca-Lallana received speaker honoraria and/or travel grants from Novartis, Biogen, Genzyme, Almirall, Bayer, Teva, Merck and/or Roche.
• M.J Nova-Sanchez has nothing to disclosure.
• C. Aguirre received speaker honoraria and/or travel grants from Novartis, Biogen, Genzyme, Almirall, Bayer, Teva, Merck and/or Roche.
• B. del Río received speaker honoraria and/or travel grants from Novartis, Biogen, Genzyme, Almirall, Bayer, Teva, Merck and/or Roche.
• J. Vivancos received speaker honoraria and/or travel grants from Novartis, Biogen, Genzyme, Almirall, Bayer, Teva, Merck and/or Roche