Slowed information processing in multiple sclerosis

I. Litvan, J. Grafman, P. Vendrell and J. M. Martinez
Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Sixteen patients with a definitive diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and an equal number of matched controls were administered tests of memory and information processing speed. Results indicated a significant long-term verbal memory impairment in patients with MS, with spared short-term memory and memory scanning. Speed of information processing was evaluated with the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The results for the two highest rates of presentation revealed significantly impaired processing in the MS group. Performance at the higher rates and retrieval of information from long-term memory were significantly correlated. These results suggest that slowed information processing is a deficit that contributes to long-term memory impairment in patients with MS.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

The relationship between subjective fatigue and cognitive fatigue in advanced multiple sclerosis
Bailey et al.
Mult Scler 2007;13:73-80.
ABSTRACT  

The PASAT performance among patients with multiple sclerosis: analyses of responding patterns using different scoring methods
Rosti et al.
Mult Scler 2006;12:586-593.
ABSTRACT  

Cognitive impairment is associated with subcortical magnetic resonance imaging grey matter T2 hypointensity in multiple sclerosis
Brass et al.
Mult Scler 2006;12:437-444.
ABSTRACT  

Cognitive patterns and progression in multiple sclerosis: construction and validation of percentile curves
Achiron et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2005;76:744-749.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Treating learning impairments improves memory performance in multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial
Chiaravalloti et al.
Mult Scler 2005;11:58-68.
ABSTRACT  

Posterior fossa lesion volume and slowed information processing in multiple sclerosis
Archibald et al.
Brain 2004;127:1526-1534.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Screening for multiple sclerosis cognitive impairment using a self-administered 15-item questionnaire
Benedict et al.
Mult Scler 2003;9:95-101.
ABSTRACT  

Evaluation of cognitive assessment and cognitive intervention for people with multiple sclerosis
Lincoln et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2002;72:93-98.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Visuoperceptual impairment in MS patients: nature and possible neural origins
Vleugels et al.
Mult Scler 2001;7:389-401.
ABSTRACT  

Corpus Callosum Atrophy in Patients With Leukoaraiosis May Indicate Global Cognitive Impairment
Yamauchi et al.
Stroke 2000;31:1515-1520.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Neuropsychologic Status in Multiple Sclerosis After Treatment With Glatiramer
Weinstein et al.
Arch Neurol 1999;56:319-324.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Lexical Processing in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
Beatty and Monson
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1989;2:145-152.
ABSTRACT  

Access to Semantic Memory in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
Beatty et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1989;2:153-162.
ABSTRACT