TITLE:
The Diagnostic Role of Brain MRI in Detection of Multiple Sclerosis Related Cognitive Impairment
AUTHORS:
Mohamed Saad, Maha Bilal, Wael Gabr, Aymen Abd Elnaby
KEYWORDS:
Multiple Sclerosis, Cognitive Impairment, MRI, Cortical Brain Lesion, MS Related CI
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science,
Vol.9 No.8,
August
12,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS), which can severely affect patients’ and their families’ life. Early suspicion and detection of CI can improve general medical management of MS patients. Objectives: To correlate MS related CI to cortical brain lesions using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: Cognitive impairment was detected using mini mental state examination (MMSE); Neurological examination and brain MRI were performed for all patients. Correlation was calculated between disease cortical burden detected by MRI and CI. Results: Fifty-three patients with proven MS were scanned by brain MRI; 69.8% of them had cognitive impairment diagnosed with MMSE. The presence and severity of cognitive impairment was correlated to cortical brain lesion. Cognitive impairment was not correlated with non-cortical brain lesions or neurological physical disability measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Conclusions: Presence of brain frontal cortical lesions detected by MRI in MS patients can predict subsequent development of MS-related CI.