Executive functions in patients with multiple sclerosis

During the last years, research on cognitive deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been intensified. Since MS-specific lesions are often found in the periventricular cerebral white matter, impairments in working memory and executive functions should prevail. The present study compares 40 MS patients and 18 controls in tests on executive function, verbal memory and attention. In addition we gathered data on depression and the extent of psychosomatic complaints in the MS group. The analysis revealed a significant correlation between the patients' clinical status (EDSS score), attention, and free recall. Patients with secondary chronic progressive MS were impaired in virtually all parameters of executive functions. We found a significant difference in a simple working memory task and a reaction alteration task for the MS group as a whole and for the group with relapsing-remitting MS. MS patients therefore suffer from cognitive deficits in considerable numbers. Our results demonstrate that it may be possible to differentiate the stages of MS and make assessments of the course and type of the disease by means of specific neuropsychological procedures.