Attention impairment associated with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients with mild incapacity

Neuropsychological studies have consistently reported cognitive dysfunctions associated with multiple sclerosis. One-hundred fifteen subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were compared with forty health controls according to a neuropsychological test battery, which included dig...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Balsimelli, Silvia, Mendes, Maria Fernanda, Bertolucci, Paulo Henrique Ferreira [UNIFESP], Tilbery, Charles Peter
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2007
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unifesp.br:11600/3703
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2007000200014
http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/3703
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:multiple sclerosis
cognition
attention
esclerose múltipla
cognição
atenção
Descripción
Sumario:Neuropsychological studies have consistently reported cognitive dysfunctions associated with multiple sclerosis. One-hundred fifteen subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were compared with forty health controls according to a neuropsychological test battery, which included digit span, trail making, cancellation and stroop test. Both groups were matched for age, sex and educational level. Subjects with RRMS had a worse performance the speed of response. Subjects with RRMS spent more time to complete the test in either sections A (p=0.001) or B (p=0.001), although there was no significant difference in terms of number of errors. The total time required to finish the Stroop test was higher for subjects with RRMS (p<0.001), being the time difference between groups significant at trial 4 (p<0.001). Attention impairment in subjects with RRMS is related to slowed central processing, which may be affected in all stages, including impairment of automatic and controlled processing of information and in the motor program.