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Cognitive Phenotypes in MS and Targeted Treatments

J Neurology; ePub 2018 Jan 22; Leavitt, Tosto, et al

Adopting a novel classification taxonomy for cognitive phenotypes will advance understanding of cognitive impairment and enable a precision medicine approach to the development of effective, targeted treatments for cognition in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), a recent study found. Cognition was measured in 128 relapsing-remitting MS patients using validated tests of verbal/visual memory, and processing speed (PS). Researchers evaluated cognitive phenotype representation, as well as differences in age, education, disease duration, and IQ across cognitive phenotype groups. They found:

  • 4 cognitive phenotype groups were represented: 56.3% not impaired, 7.8% PS-impaired, 18.8% memory-impaired, 17.2% PS + memory impaired.
  • Across groups, there were no differences in age, education, disease duration.
  • IQ in non-impaired was higher than PS + memory impaired.
Citation:

Leavitt VM, Tosto G, Riley CS. Cognitive phenotypes in multiple sclerosis. [Published online ahead of print January 22, 2018]. J Neurology. doi:10.1007/s00415-018-8747-5.