Author/Authors :
Meksa, Lîga Rîga Stradins University - Faculty of Continuing Education, LATVIA , Meksa, Lîga Rîga East Clinical University Hospital “Gailezers”, LATVIA , Karelis, Guntis Rîga Stradins University - Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, LATVIA , Karelis, Guntis Rîga East Clinical University Hospital “Gailezers”, LATVIA , Vainsteine, Lana Rîga Stradins University, LATVIA , Vainsteine, Lana Rîga East Clinical University Hospital “Gailezers”, LATVIA , Svilpe, Sandra Rîga East Clinical University Hospital “Gailezers”, LATVIA , Gulbe, Gundega Rîga East Clinical University Hospital “Gailezers”, LATVIA , Gulbe, Gundega Rîga Stradins University - Faculty of Continuing Education, LATVIA , Gudreniece, Anzelika Rîga East Clinical University Hospital “Gailezers”, LATVIA , Kalnina, Jolanta Latvian Maritime Multiple Sclerosis Centre, LATVIA
Abstract :
Cognitive changes are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The neuropsychological testing requires specialised trained staff, time-consuming expert analysis and complicated test result interpretation. An expert committee recommended the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which is optimised for small centres. We conducted the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT), for which the results were comparable with similar results in literature. Most MS patients showed decreased attention and processing speed, while visual memory was generally normal. Cognitive impairment occurrence is not strongly related to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score.
Keywords :
cognitive defects , cognitive monitoring , BICAMS , multiple sclerosis , MS.
