@article{ref1,
title="The association between cognition and motor performance is beyond structural damage in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis",
journal="Journal of neurology",
year="2022",
author="Mistri, Damiano and Cacciaguerra, Laura and Storelli, Loredana and Meani, Alessandro and Cordani, Claudio and Rocca, Maria A. and Filippi, Massimo",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated an association between motor and cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, disease-related brain damage might represent a common substrate to both phenomena, which was not considered before. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study is to investigate whether the association between cognition and motor function is beyond structural damage in patients with MS. <br><br>METHODS: Eighty-one healthy controls and 106 relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients underwent a 3.0 T MRI with quantification of T2-lesion volumes, T1-lesion volumes and normalized brain volumes. A functional examination [Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), Timed 25-Foot Walk test (T25FW) and Expanded Disability Status Scale] and a neuropsychological evaluation (Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests) were also administered. Association between demographic, clinical, cognitive, MRI and functional measures were analysed with univariate analyses and hierarchical linear regression. <br><br>RESULTS: In RRMS patients, Spatial Recall Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test were positively correlated with 9-HPT (p < 0.001) and T25FW (p ≤ 0.035); Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) correlated with 9-HPT (p ≤ 0.009). 9-HPT and T25FW were significantly associated with normalized brain volumes (p ≤ 0.016), T2- and T1-lesion volumes (p ≤ 0.009). Hierarchical regression models selected age and normalized deep gray matter volume as predictors of T25FW (adjusted-R(2) = 0.109). Younger age, female sex, higher normalized gray matter volume and higher PASAT 2″ scores predicted higher 9-HPT scores (adjusted-R(2) = 0.337). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In RRMS patients, deficit in information processing speed and executive function may contribute to hand motor dysfunction beyond the effect of structural disease-related burden, supporting the integration of motor and cognitive assessment in clinical settings.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0340-5354",
doi="10.1007/s00415-022-11044-8",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-022-11044-8"
}