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Treatment of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: position paper

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Abstract

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) is common, debilitating and burdensome. Key evidence from trials was reviewed to enable recommendations to be made to guide clinical practice and research. Behavioural and pharmacological interventions on cognition reported in published studies were reviewed. Most studies evaluating behavioural treatment for impairment in learning and memory, deficits of attention and executive function have demonstrated some improvement. Controlled studies in relapsing remitting MS indicate interferon (IFN) β-1b and IFN β-1a were associated with modest cognitive improvement. The effects of symptomatic therapies such as modafinil and donepezil are inconsistent. Most studies yielding positive findings have significant methodological difficulties limiting the confidence in making any broad treatment recommendations. There are no published reports of glatiramer acetate, natalizumab and fingolimod being effective in improving cognition in controlled trials. The effects of disease modifying therapies in other forms of MS and clinically isolated syndrome have not yielded positive results. Data linking behavioural therapy, symptomatic treatment or disease modifying treatment, to either reducing cognitive decline or improving impaired cognition are limited and inconsistent. The treatment and prevention of cognitive impairment needs to remain a key research focus, identifying new interventions and improving clinical trial methodology.

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Acknowledgments

The medical writer, who supported the development of this manuscript (Janet Bray PharmD), undertook initial literature research, development of summary tables, editing the text provided by the authors, and verification of references and other editorial aspects. This work was supported by the Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF), an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the Continuing Medical Education.

Conflicts of interest

All authors were compensated by Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF) for their contribution as faculty and speakers for the conference on “Cognition Disorders in MS” held in Florence on 30 September and 1 October 2011, which included contributions to this position paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Maria Pia Amato

  2. Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK

    Dawn Langdon

  3. Unit of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia, Vall d′Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    Xavier Montalban

  4. Department of Neurology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Ralph H. B. Benedict

  5. Kessler Foundation Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, New York, NY, USA

    John DeLuca

  6. Department of Neurology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Lauren B. Krupp

  7. Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK

    Alan J. Thompson

  8. Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Giancarlo Comi

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  1. Maria Pia Amato
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  2. Dawn Langdon
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  3. Xavier Montalban
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  8. Giancarlo Comi
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Correspondence to Maria Pia Amato.

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Amato, M.P., Langdon, D., Montalban, X. et al. Treatment of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: position paper. J Neurol 260, 1452–1468 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6678-0

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