Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective Factor

Most people with MS experience cognitive deficits especially in attention, memory, information processing, and executive functions, negatively impacting on their quality of life. Cognitive variables of short-term memory, logical memory, and verbal fluency in 65 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS)...

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Main Authors: Mar Estrada-López, Sheila García-Martín, Isabel Cantón-Mayo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:Neurology International
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/13/3/34
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author Mar Estrada-López
Sheila García-Martín
Isabel Cantón-Mayo
author_facet Mar Estrada-López
Sheila García-Martín
Isabel Cantón-Mayo
author_sort Mar Estrada-López
collection DOAJ
description Most people with MS experience cognitive deficits especially in attention, memory, information processing, and executive functions, negatively impacting on their quality of life. Cognitive variables of short-term memory, logical memory, and verbal fluency in 65 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were analysed in conjunction with sociodemographic variables such as sex, age, and educational level that might influence disease progression. We found that psychoeducational variables exerted a significant effect on the cognitive status of patients with MS. Thus, when considering sex, age, educational level, and type of MS (SPMS or RRMS), tests for between-subject effects revealed statistically significant differences in all three cognitive variables. In addition, we found that the type of MS and time since onset also generated significant cognitive differences. Our study shows that educational achievement or level is a protective factor against the disease, acting as a source of intellectual enrichment that promotes cognitive reserve in patients with MS. Further longitudinal studies assessing disease progression and prognosis in patients with MS would be useful in order to determine the specific importance of these variables in such patients and in strategies that could enhance their performance in neuropsychological assessment tasks.
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spelling doaj.art-09d68267794f4362ac2c6bf147f4f5e12023-11-22T14:33:29ZengMDPI AGNeurology International2035-83772021-07-0113333534210.3390/neurolint13030034Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective FactorMar Estrada-López0Sheila García-Martín1Isabel Cantón-Mayo2Department of Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy, Faculty of Education, University of León, 24071 León, SpainDepartment of General and Specific Didactics and Educational Theory, Faculty of Education, University of León, 24071 León, SpainDepartment of General and Specific Didactics and Educational Theory, Faculty of Education, University of León, 24071 León, SpainMost people with MS experience cognitive deficits especially in attention, memory, information processing, and executive functions, negatively impacting on their quality of life. Cognitive variables of short-term memory, logical memory, and verbal fluency in 65 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were analysed in conjunction with sociodemographic variables such as sex, age, and educational level that might influence disease progression. We found that psychoeducational variables exerted a significant effect on the cognitive status of patients with MS. Thus, when considering sex, age, educational level, and type of MS (SPMS or RRMS), tests for between-subject effects revealed statistically significant differences in all three cognitive variables. In addition, we found that the type of MS and time since onset also generated significant cognitive differences. Our study shows that educational achievement or level is a protective factor against the disease, acting as a source of intellectual enrichment that promotes cognitive reserve in patients with MS. Further longitudinal studies assessing disease progression and prognosis in patients with MS would be useful in order to determine the specific importance of these variables in such patients and in strategies that could enhance their performance in neuropsychological assessment tasks.https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/13/3/34cognitive dysfunctioneducational levelmultiple sclerosisprotective factorRRMSSPMS
spellingShingle Mar Estrada-López
Sheila García-Martín
Isabel Cantón-Mayo
Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective Factor
Neurology International
cognitive dysfunction
educational level
multiple sclerosis
protective factor
RRMS
SPMS
title Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective Factor
title_full Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective Factor
title_fullStr Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective Factor
title_full_unstemmed Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective Factor
title_short Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: Educational Level as a Protective Factor
title_sort cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis educational level as a protective factor
topic cognitive dysfunction
educational level
multiple sclerosis
protective factor
RRMS
SPMS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/13/3/34
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