Abstract

NEGREIROS, Marco Aurélio et al. Cognitive profile of Brazilian individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. J. bras. psiquiatr. [online]. 2011, vol.60, n.4, pp. 266-276. ISSN 0047-2085.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0047-20852011000400006.

Objective: The goal of this study is to investigate neuropsychological profile of a sample of Brazilian patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to describe the cognitive functions more frequently affected. Methods: Fifty-four patients with RRMS and 54 controls matched by sex, age and education were assessed through a long and comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Results: We found that 59.2% of patients with RRMS had some sort of cognitive impairment as compared to the control group. Neuropsychological testing identified executive functions, long-term memory and speed of information processing as the cognitive functions most frequently impaired among patients. Conclusion: The results are in line with previous studies reported. However, as there are few studies of cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis in Brazilian literature, more studies are still necessary for a larger evaluation of the cognitive profile of multiple sclerosis in Brazil.

Keywords : Multiple sclerosis; cognition; neuropsychological tests.