Cognitive Testing

Cognitive function is measured with a series of verbal (talking) and pencil-and-paper tests. They are not difficult to do and there are no 'right' answers. The point is to find out how well you can do on them. There is an expectation that NO ONE, with or without MS, will be 'perfect'. The tests are standardized to allow the professional administering the test to allow for issues like age or effects of medications.

The testing should be done by a professional with experience in testing people with MS. Usually that will be a neuropsychologist who has specialized in this field. Testing is done in an office (although you may be given some tests to do at home) and can take a few hours to a full day. Do NOT try to cheat on this! The whole point is to find out how well your brain is really working.

I have a somewhat 'contrarian' point of view on the issue of when cognitive testing should be done. Many authorities suggest that cognitive testing be done at the point when people with MS and/or their families become concerned about cognitive functioning.

I think that is sort of closing the barn door after the horse is out. You want to know, ideally, what the cognitive function was BEFORE problems showed up. That means getting tested as early as possible in the course of the disease.

The purpose of this is to get a baseline against which future changes can be measured. Just as your doctor wants to know, for example, what your blood chemistry is like BEFORE starting you on one of the ABCR drugs, so you (and your doctor) should try to establish what your cognitive functioning is like as early as possible in the disease. This issue can become very important in applying for disability benefits at some point in the future.

If you want to read more about cognitive problems in MS, below are links to three good articles on the issue. The first two are aimed at the general populace while the third is a more research-focused article and somewhat more difficult to read.

• Cognitive Problems in Multiple Sclerosis


• Cognitive Dysfunction


• The Neuropsychiatry of Multiple Sclerosis

Related Topics:

• Diagnosis MS: Early Treatment is Best
• MS in the Workplace

Technorati Tags: MS, cognitive testing, brain fog

MS and Cognitive Function

Cognitive function refers to how a person thinks, solves problems, how their memory works, their ability to concentrate.

Although the physical effects of MS are widely recognized by the general public, issues related to cognitive function are less so. However, approximately 50% of people with MS will develop some degree of cognitive dysfunction during the course of their disease. There is little or no relationship between the level of physical disability and degree of cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment may even be the first symptom to appear. And, cognitive impairment is a significant source of disability. Some sources even report it as the most common reason for people with MS becoming officially 'disabled' to the point that they receive disability benefits.

Not all people with MS develop problems with cognitive functioning and those who do may have a variety of different problems. Word-finding difficulty is one of the most common problems reported. Other common difficulties include issues with memory (very common) as well as problems with planning, organizing, prioritizing, problem-solving, concentrating, or abstract reasoning.

The initial signs of cognitive dysfunction may be as slight as having problems finding the right word in conversation or remembering why you went to the store. Since that sort of thing happens to nearly everyone (with or without MS), not only do the people with MS tend to discount its significance, but so do their families and friends.

The affect of MS on cognitive function is complex. A primary issue is certainly the damage to the myelin and brain cells that is a part of the disease. Since cognitive function is centered in the brain, it makes sense that any sort of damage to the brain tissue could result in cognitive problems. Also, depression, fatigue and stress may all compromise cognitive functioning. Since all of those are common among people with MS, cognitive functioning gets a sort of 'double-whammy'.

I will write more about this issue later, focusing on cognitive testing.

Related Topics: Drug May Slow Down Multiple Sclerosis, Epstein-Barr Virus May Trigger MS

Technorati Tags: multiple sclerosis, cognitive function, MS