Short-Term Cognitive Training Improves Mental Efficiency and Mood in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate a short-term non-specific home-based 6-week cognitive training for its effect on neuropsychological deficits and depression. Subjects and Methods: Cognitive and affective abilities of patients with MS were compared with healthy controls using an identical neuropsychological test battery. Re-testing was performed after 6 weeks of cognitive home-based training. Results: Patients already showed cognitive deficits at baseline. Cognitive training resulted in a significant improvement in several skills, in particular with respect to visuoconstructive and figural long-term memory. In addition, prior depressed mood and quality of life improved in MS patients during the training period and remained up to 6 months. Conclusions: Our study corroborated the early appearance of neuropsychological deficits in MS. Mental training, although unspecific, lead to improvements with respect to attention and memory functions in patients, and to some degree in control subjects, which may last for more than 6 months.

Evaluation of the Impact of Cognitive Training on Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Our data confirm the ability of treatment to maintain the improvement gained in mood at least until the 6-month follow-up, whereas no effect was observed in the other parameters. The discrepancy between Brenk et al [36] findings and ours may be explained in the light of the slight improvement we observed in the neuropsychological tests. Furthermore, it should be borne in mind that the 2 studies are based on different methodological approaches (hospital vs. hometreatment).…”

“…These results did not persist at the follow-up examination, which thus indicates that training needs to be repeated to stabilize the improvement achieved. Brenk et al [36] studied 27 MS patients treated with a cognitive home-based training and 14 controls. Training in their study resulted in a significant improvement, particularly in visuoconstructive and figural long-term memory.…”

Processing speed and working memory training in multiple sclerosis: A double-blind randomized controlled pilot study

“…Several researchers have focused on the application of cognitive training in MS (Brenk, Laun, & Haase, 2008;Chiaravalloti, Moore, Nickelshpur, & DeLuca, 2013;Hildebrandt et al, 2007;Jønsson, Korfitzen, Heltberg, Ravnborg, & Byskov-Ottosen, 1993;Mattioli et al, 2010;Plohmann et al, 1998;Shatil, Metzer, Horvitz, & Miller, 2010;Solari et al, 2004;Tesar, Bandion, & Baumhackl, 2005;Vogt et al, 2009). Most published studies in MS find modest improvements in at least some cognitive skills following training (see Brenk et al, 2008;Hildebrandt et al, 2007;Jønsson et al, 1993;Plohmann et al, 1998;Shatil et al, 2010;Solari et al, 2004;Tesar et al, 2005;Vogt et al, 2009).…”

Therapie der Multiplen Sklerose

“…Die Therapie der kognitiven Beeinträchtigung kann durch teilleistungsspezifisches kognitives Training, durch die Vermittlung von Kompensationsstrategien und einer begleitenden Psychotherapie, welche auch die Angehörigen berücksichtigt, erfolgen. Studien zeigen, dass spezifisches Aufmerksamkeitstraining über 4-12 Wochen eine Verbesserung der Informationsverarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit und des Gedächtnisses für 6-12 Monate nach sich ziehen kann (Brenk et al 2008, O'Brien et al 2008. Zudem deuten Studien darauf hin, dass sich ein gezieltes Arbeitsgedächtnistraining darüber hinaus positiv auf die Fatiguesymptomatik auswirken kann (Vogt et al 2008;Vogt et al 2009).…”