Brief Computer-Based Information Processing Measures are Linked to White Matter Integrity in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is a demyelinating disorder with unique clinical challenges. A brief computer-administered cognitive screening battery measuring processing speed (Cogstate) and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment in MS (BICAMS) detect cognitive impairment in POMS. The neuroanatomic correlates of these deficits are incompletely understood. The purpose of this study is to define the neuroanatomic underpinnings of deficits identified with cognitive screening batteries in POMS.


METHODS
Participants with POMS and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were screened with Cogstate and BICAMS. Diffusion tensor imaging assessed region-wise and tractography-based fractional anisotropy (FA).


RESULTS
The POMS (n = 15) and HC (n = 21) groups were matched on age (mean ages 17.9 ± 3.2 vs. 17.8 ± 3.3 years, respectively) and on an estimate of general intellectual functioning. The Cogstate composite revealed significant slowing in POMS relative to HCs (P = .004), but the BICAMS composite did not significantly distinguish the groups (P = .10). The Cogstate composite showed moderate-to-strong correlations with regional FA (r = -.67 to -.82) and significantly associated with uncinate fasciculus FA following multiple comparisons correction (P = .002) in POMS. However, the BICAMS composite measure showed only weak-to-moderate correlations with FA in POMS (r = -.19 to -.57), with none surviving multiple comparisons correction.


CONCLUSIONS
Computer-administered measures of cognitive processing are particularly sensitive in POMS and are closely linked to white matter FA.
['Bartlett|Elizabeth|E|', 'Shaw|Michael|M|', 'Schwarz|Colleen|C|', 'Feinberg|Charles|C|', 'DeLorenzo|Christine|C|', 'Krupp|Lauren B|LB|', 'Charvet|Leigh E|LE|']
D000293:Adolescent D016880:Anisotropy D001921:Brain D003072:Cognition Disorders D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D009103:Multiple Sclerosis D009415:Nerve Net D009483:Neuropsychological Tests D066127:White Matter D055815:Young Adult
Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis cognition BICAMS diffusion tensor imaging information processing speed