Computerized cognitive rehabilitation for treatment of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: an explorative study

• Published in: Journal of integrative neuroscience 2020-06, Vol.19 (2), p.341-347
• Main Authors: Vilou, Irini, Bakirtzis, Christos, Artemiadis, Artemios, Ioannidis, Panagiotis, Papadimitriou, Malamati, Konstantinopoulou, Eleni, Aretouli, Eleni, Messinis, Lambros, Nasios, Grigorios, Dardiotis, Efthimios, Kosmidis, MaryHelen, Grigoriadis, Nikolaos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Cognitive Dysfunction - rehabilitation; Cognitive Remediation; Cognitive Reserve - physiology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - complications; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - rehabilitation; multiple sclerosis|cognitive rehabilitation|cognition|neurobehavior|neuropsychology; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Pilot Projects; Therapy, Computer-Assisted
• ISSN: 0219-6352; 1757-448X; 1757-448X
• DOI: 10.31083/j.jin.2020.02.35

In this explorative study, forty-seven patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were randomized to a custom 6-week cognitive rehabilitation intervention (n = 23) using the BrainHQ web-based platform and to a control group condition (n = 24). Cognitive rehabilitation intervention consisted of two 40-minute sessions per week. All patients were tested with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis battery, the Stroop Color-Word Test, and the trail making test, while the Beck Depression Inventory - Fast Screen questionnaire was used as a measure of mood and the cognitive reserve index as a measure of cognitive reserve. We used the reliable change index, to calculate clinically meaningful changes of performance, and to discriminate between responders and non-responders of this intervention. Statistically significant improvement of the group receiving treatment was observed mainly on measures of verbal and non-verbal episodic memory and, to a lesser extent, on reading speed, selective attention/response inhibition, and visual attention. Verbal memory and visual attention improvements remained significant after considering the corrected for multiple comparisons level of significance. According to reliable change index scores, 12/23 (52.2%) of patients in the intervention group presented meaningful improvement in at least one measure (Greek Verbal Learning Test: 26%, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised: 17.4%, Stroop-Words test: 13%). This explorative study provides evidence that, at least in the short term, cognitive rehabilitation may improve the cognitive performance of multiple sclerosis patients.