Contributions
Abstract: 94
Type: Scientific Session
Abstract Category: N/A
Background: Despite the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its tremendous effects on work ability and quality of life, evidence-based and effective treatment strategies are still an unmet need and solutions urgently requested.
Objective: To review existing studies with respect to the potential of exercise and cognitive training on cognition in MS and to present recent data of our ongoing exercise study.
Methods: Patients included in our trial received one of the following interventions for three months: physical exercise training twice a week for 45 minutes (treadmill walking), computer-based training twice a week for 45 minutes or a combination of both. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation was performed before and after the training period. To determine self-reported deficits, the perceived cognitive deficits questionnaire (PDQ-20) was applied. To measure information processing speed the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) was used. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to evaluate treatment effects.
Results: So far, 44 MS patients (39 relapsing-remitting MS and 5 secondary-progressive MS, 33 female; mean age 43.70, SD = 10.35; mean EDSS 2.44) are included. First analyses indicate a significant improvement in both primary outcomes across the three training groups: PDQ-20: z = 3.093, p = .002; These findings are also reflected by strong effect sizes for both measures: PDQ-20 (d = 1.63) and SDMT (d = 0.87), with no differences between the different training groups. An additional analysis of the PDQ subscales showed significant improvement on the following cognitive domains: attention and concentration (z = 2.890, p = .004); retrospective memory; prospective memory.
Conclusions: Our first analyses support the hypothesis that physical exercise and cognitive training improve patients' self-perceived cognitive deficits and the ability to process information quickly. Thus, physical exercise and computer-based cognitive training have the potential to subjectively and objectively improve MS patients' cognitive performance.
Disclosure: IKP has received honoraria for speaking at scientific meetings, serving at scientific advisory boards and consulting activities from Adamas Pharma, Almirall, Bayer Pharma, Biogen, Celgene, Desitin, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Roche, Novartis and Teva. She has received research support from Merck Serono, Novartis, the German MS Society and Teva.
Abstract: 94
Type: Scientific Session
Abstract Category: N/A
Background: Despite the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its tremendous effects on work ability and quality of life, evidence-based and effective treatment strategies are still an unmet need and solutions urgently requested.
Objective: To review existing studies with respect to the potential of exercise and cognitive training on cognition in MS and to present recent data of our ongoing exercise study.
Methods: Patients included in our trial received one of the following interventions for three months: physical exercise training twice a week for 45 minutes (treadmill walking), computer-based training twice a week for 45 minutes or a combination of both. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation was performed before and after the training period. To determine self-reported deficits, the perceived cognitive deficits questionnaire (PDQ-20) was applied. To measure information processing speed the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) was used. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to evaluate treatment effects.
Results: So far, 44 MS patients (39 relapsing-remitting MS and 5 secondary-progressive MS, 33 female; mean age 43.70, SD = 10.35; mean EDSS 2.44) are included. First analyses indicate a significant improvement in both primary outcomes across the three training groups: PDQ-20: z = 3.093, p = .002; These findings are also reflected by strong effect sizes for both measures: PDQ-20 (d = 1.63) and SDMT (d = 0.87), with no differences between the different training groups. An additional analysis of the PDQ subscales showed significant improvement on the following cognitive domains: attention and concentration (z = 2.890, p = .004); retrospective memory; prospective memory.
Conclusions: Our first analyses support the hypothesis that physical exercise and cognitive training improve patients' self-perceived cognitive deficits and the ability to process information quickly. Thus, physical exercise and computer-based cognitive training have the potential to subjectively and objectively improve MS patients' cognitive performance.
Disclosure: IKP has received honoraria for speaking at scientific meetings, serving at scientific advisory boards and consulting activities from Adamas Pharma, Almirall, Bayer Pharma, Biogen, Celgene, Desitin, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Roche, Novartis and Teva. She has received research support from Merck Serono, Novartis, the German MS Society and Teva.