Cognitive problems in children with MS
"Analysis of the results showed that 35% of the children were deemed to have major cognitive impairment, as defined by impaired performance on at least two of the tests (59% showed impairment on at least one test). Areas most affected included attention in tasks involving competing stimuli, language ability (naming and receptive language), and delayed recall of verbal information. Six of the 13 children evaluated by a psychiatrist were formally diagnosed with an affective disorder. Performance on the cognitive tests was correlated with EDSS and number of relapses.
The team also documented the effect of MS cognitive impairment on learning and schooling. On average, the participants had missed 25 days of school due to MS, and three needed to be homeschooled. 35% needed some type of accommodation at school due to memory and attention problems. In most cases the accommodation was successful, but some of the participants reported having had to drop out of school, be held back a year, or move into remedial classes.
The authors are following the participants in this study to evaluate changes in cognitive function over time; they report finding preliminary evidence of decline in five of eight subjects reassessed after one year. It will be interesting to learn what these follow-up studies reveal since longitudinal studies of pediatric MS are scarce. It is also good that people are studying cognitive impairment in childhood MS -- showing that such a critical aspect of development is significantly affected by MS should focus more attention on studying and treating MS in children."