Association between symbol digit modalities test and regional cortex thickness in young adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Yang, Tao; Zhao, Xuesong; Yang, Xiao; Kang, Youngnam; Wang, Xin; Tong, Yanping; Wang, Lei; Fan, Yongping

doi:10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106805

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Thalamic atrophy has been reported to correlate with SDMT performance [16][17][18], which could be among the mechanisms underlying the early decline of cognitive performance in MS [15,19]. However, poor performance on the SDMT is associated with multiple brain pathologies, such as diffuse WM damage or reduced volumes in the deep gray matter, cerebellum, and several cerebral cortical regions [1,15,18,[20][21][22][23][24]. Consequently, SDMT is influenced by multiple factors other than IPS, including attention, working memory, and mental flexibility [25,26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basal Ganglia Atrophy and Impaired Cognitive Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis

Akaishi,

Fujimori,

Nakashima

2024

Cureus

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Impaired cognitive processing speed is among the important higher brain dysfunctions in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the exact structural mechanisms of the dysfunction remain uncertain. This study aimed to identify the brain regions associated with the impaired cognitive processing speed in MS by comparing the cognitive processing speed, measured using the Cognitive Processing Speed Test (CogEval) z-score, and brain regional volumetric data. Altogether, 80 patients with MS (64 with relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS] and 16 with secondary progressive MS [SPMS]) were enrolled. Consequently, CogEval z-scores were worse in patients with SPMS than in those with RRMS (p=0.001). In the univariate correlation analyses, significant correlations with CogEval z-score were suggested in the MS lesion volume (p<0.001; Spearman’s rank correlation test) and atrophies in the cerebral cortex (p=0.031), cerebral white matter (p=0.013), corpus callosum (p=0.001), thalamus (p=0.001), and putamen (p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that putamen atrophy was significantly associated with CogEval z-score (p=0.038) independent of volume in other brain regions, while thalamic atrophy was not (p=0.79). Univariate correlation analyses were further performed in each of RRMS and SPMS. None of the evaluated volumetric data indicated a significant correlation with the CogEval z-score in RRMS. Meanwhile, atrophies in the cerebral white matter (p=0.008), corpus callosum (p=0.002), putamen (p=0.011), and pallidum (p=0.017) demonstrated significant correlations with CogEval z-score in SPMS. In summary, the putamen could be an important region of atrophy contributing to the impaired cognitive speed in MS, especially in the later disease stages after a transition to SPMS.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basal Ganglia Atrophy and Impaired Cognitive Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis

Akaishi,

Fujimori,

Nakashima

2024

Cureus

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“…We sought to explore the relationship between physical fatigue, depression, and information processing speed in PwMS, hypothesizing that depression is predictive of the relationship between physical fatigue and cognitive function. Our main objective was to explore the role of depression as a mediator of the relationship between FSS and SDMT considered the most sensitive individual cognitive measure for the disease [ 23 ] and a measure of information processing speed [ 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of depression on the perception of fatigue and information processing speed in a cohort of multiple sclerosis patients

et al. 2023

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Background Information processing speed is commonly impaired in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). However, depression and fatigue can affect the cognitive profile of patients: fatigue has a negative impact from the disease’s earliest stage and a reduced information processing speed is often associated with higher levels of depression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between information processing speed and physical fatigue in a cohort of Italian PwMS from a single center, considering the effect of depression. Methods Two hundred (W = 128; mean age = 39.83 years; SD = 11.86) PwMS, from the Bari University Hospital, underwent testing for processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT]), fatigue level (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS]), and depression (Beck’s Depression Inventory [BDI]). Results Statistically significant correlations emerged between SDMT and FSS, SDMT and BDI, FSS and BDI. Mediation analyses revealed that while physical fatigue had no significant direct negative effect on information processing speed (z=-0.891; p > 0.05), depression predicted the relationship between fatigue and information processing speed (z=-2.181; p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings showed that cognitive performance at SDMT was not affected by patients’ perceived level of physical fatigue, but by depression. The presence of a high BDI score mediates the physical fatigue on cognitive performance impact.

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“…In particular, microstructural damage in the main supra‐ and infratentorial white matter tracts and volume loss of deep gray matter are considered the two major pathological correlations of reduced SDMT performance 28–30 . In addition, an association between the SDMT score and reduced cortical thickness in multiple cerebral regions, including the temporal cortex, has been shown in recent studies 31,32 . The mechanism of neuroanatomical association between SDMT performance and temporal cortex is not known.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A significant negative correlation between PST score and level of depression was observed in our study. This is consistent with the current understanding that cognitive impairment is strongly associated with depression in MS. [23][24][25][26][27] Brain atrophy and lesion volume in frontal and temporal brain regions, and microstructural damage in the normal-appearing white and gray matter, were shown to associate with depression in MS. 26 These widely distributed brain damages including both the white and gray matter have also been shown to underly cognitive disfunction in MS, [28][29][30][31][32] and could be the basis of the association between PST score and depression. On the other hand, we could not find a significant association between PST score and QOL when adjusted for the levels of physical disability and depression.…”

Section: Pst and Brain Mri Metricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[28][29][30] In addition, an association between the SDMT score and reduced cortical thickness in multiple cerebral regions, including the temporal cortex, has been shown in recent studies. 31,32 The mechanism of neuroanatomical association between SDMT performance and temporal cortex is not known. However, as middle and inferior temporal gyri are involved in object recognition and are the center of the ventral visual stream, 41 it is conceivable that damage in these regions affects SDMT performance, which require processing of visual stimuli.…”

Section: Pst and Brain Mri Metricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association of the Processing Speed Test with depression and brain magnetic resonance imaging metrics in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis

Miyazaki

Niino

Takahashi

et al. 2022

Clinical & Exp Neuroim

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Objectives: Cognitive dysfunction occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Processing Speed Test (PST) is a self-administered, tablet-based cognitive screening tool that closely resembles the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and can be quickly administered. In this study we assessed the performance of the PST and its correlation with the clinical and radiological aspects of MS in Japanese patients.Methods: PST was administered to 52 Japanese patients with MS. The Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Functional Assessment of MS (FAMS) were used to evaluate depression, fatigue, and healthrelated quality of life, respectively. Global and regional brain volumes and cortical thickness were analyzed based on 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance images.Results: The mean ± standard deviation of the PST score was 52.5 ± 16.5. Negative correlations were observed between PST score and age, disease duration, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The PST score showed significant correlation with BDI-II after adjusting for disease duration and EDSS. In contrast, no significant association was observed between PST score and FSS, FAMS total score, and employment status after adjusting for disease duration, EDSS, and BDI-II. The PST score showed significant correlation with global and regional brain volumes, and the thickness of bilateral temporal cortexes. Conclusion:The PST score was associated with the severity of depression and both global and regional brain volume in Japanese patients with MS. Our findings support the validity of the PST as a useful tool for assessing the cognitive function of MS patients in clinical practice.

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Association between symbol digit modalities test and regional cortex thickness in young adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Cited by 8 publications

References 44 publications

Basal Ganglia Atrophy and Impaired Cognitive Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis

Basal Ganglia Atrophy and Impaired Cognitive Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis

Impact of depression on the perception of fatigue and information processing speed in a cohort of multiple sclerosis patients

Association of the Processing Speed Test with depression and brain magnetic resonance imaging metrics in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis

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