Association of cognitive impairment and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairments in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are suggested as a prognostic factor for disease development, and consequently higher disability and more deficits in daily and social activities. In this regard, we aimed to investigate the association between quality of life (QOL) and cognitive function in patients with MS.
 Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). General characteristic variables were carried out, and then all patients underwent assessments such as Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and North American Adult Reading Test (NAART).
 Results: In the present study, a total of 92 patients, including 76 women with a mean disease duration of 6.82 ± 4.80 years were involved. Results of simple Pearson correlation revealed a significant positive relation between California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) total learning with MSQOL mental health (r = 0.267, P = 0.017) and physical health (r = 0.299, P = 0.007). After adjusting for potential confounders, there was a negative correlation between MSQOL mental health with Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) (r = -0.303, P = 0.015) and Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO) (r = -0.310, P = 0.013). Besides, MSQOL physical health was negatively associated with Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) in the adjusted model (r = -0.270, P = 0.031).
 Conclusion: There is a statistically significant association between specific aspects of cognitive decline and QOL. Therefore, more attention should be paid to cognitive impairment in patients with MS as based on our findings, it is significantly associated with QOL.

Impact of Cognitive Impairment on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients—A Comprehensive Review

“…Therefore, an accurate diagnosis of CI in the early stages of the disease can be used as a determinant for disease progression. Furthermore, there are findings that reveal that patients with SPMS appear to experience higher CI compared to patients with CIS, RRMS, and PPMS [ 23 ].…”

“…It has been suggested that CI in patients with MS is a prognostic indicator for the development of the disease and, consequently, for greater disability and more deficits in daily and social functioning. A statistically significant association between specific aspects of CI and QoL has been observed from a health perspective, both mental and physical, and therefore more attention should be paid to CI in PwMS [ 23 ]. A better understanding of the cognitive deficits of MS will inform the emerging field of cognitive rehabilitation, which aims to restore cognitive functioning (often through intensive cognitive training programs), or teach compensatory strategies to attenuate the deleterious effects of the deficits and refractory cognitive effects on QoL [ 35 ].…”

Psychological Resilience as a Mediator Between Depression and Quality of Life in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

“…Notably, the prevalence of depression varies across different forms of MS, with rates reported at 27.01% for MS overall, 15.78% for relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and 19.13% for progressive MS (PMS) (Boeschoten et al, 2017;Feinstein, Magalhaes, Richard, Audet, & Moore, 2014;Wood et al, 2013). Importantly, depression is not merely a psychological burden but also a determinant of quality of life (QoL), affecting treatment adherence and clinical outcomes such as hospital admissions and relapses (Asadollahzadeh et al, 2024;Pilotto, Floris, Solla, Pugliatti, & Zarbo, 2024;Yalachkov et al, 2019). Furthermore, individuals with MS face a significantly heightened risk of suicidal ideation, ranging from 2.3 to 14 times higher than that of the general population, with estimated rates of suicide comprising 1.8% to 15.1% of all MS-related deaths (Kalb, Feinstein, Rohrig, Sankary, & Willis, 2019;Lewis et al, 2017).…”

Can helicobacter pylori infection reduce the risk of Multiple sclerosis? A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial inflammatory autoimmune disorder with a chronic neurodegenerative process of the central nervous system (CNS). Approximately, 400,000 Americans who are mostly young, experience this disorder (1,2). The unknown pathogenesis of MS is seemed to be a complex combination of host and environmental factors such as viruses, bacteria, or chemicals (3).…”