Neuropsychological differences between types of multiple sclerosis: relapsing remitting versus primary progressive

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease whose clinical deterioration is observed at a physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional level, affecting the quality of life of the patient. Several scientific studies show early cognitive alterations in MS and profiles of different cognitive affectation according to the clinical form of the disease. Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the existence of significant differences between relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS) in neuropsychological processes such as attention, memory, language, visuoperception, executive function, and processing speed. Methods: The sample consisted of 20 patients with MS with chronological ages between 20 and 50 years of both sexes belonging to the Psique de Medellín Foundation, who were administered the paced auditory serial addition test and the digit-symbol test to assess attention, the complex figure of Rey to evaluate memory, the Boston test, and verbal fluency to assess language, complex figure of Rey copy for visuoperception, Wisconsin to assess executive function, and trail making test to measure processing speed. A descriptive, inferential, and transversal design was used. Results: There are no significant differences between the scores of patients with RRMS and PPMS in any assessed neuropsychological process. Conclusion: Knowing the neuropsychological profile of MS in early stages can be useful as an indicator of prognosis and to suggest therapeutic and follow-up strategies in patients with RRMS and PPMS.