Computer-Based Cognitive Rehab Improves Attentional Functions in Multiple Sclerosis Patients:

MADRID, SPAIN

Computer-based drill and practice cognitive rehabilitation can be used to help improve attentional functions in patients with multiple sclerosis.

"Speech information processing in attentional tasks gets better with a cognitive rehabilitation program that is computerised and tailor made," said lead investigator Marta Renom, BA, speech and language therapist, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation - Day Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.

The investigators recruited 50 patients from the hospital and stratified 23 to the control group and 27 to the rehabilitation group.

During the study, the investigators used an assessment protocol that included neuropsychological, psychosocial, and medical parameters.

It was given 4 times at 6-monthly intervals.

Between the second and the third assessment, the rehabilitation cohort participated in a 6-month cognitive rehabilitation program.

At baseline, control subjects were:

­                  younger than the treatment group (41. 5 vs 47. 8, respectively; P = . 017).

­                  They were similar in terms of years of schooling (11.4 vs 10.8, respectively)

­                  and gender (female/ male: 16/7 vs 16/11, respectively).

Statistically significant improvements were observed in the treatment group that received computer-based rehabilitation.

Reaction times in:

­                  tonic alertness (P = .035),

­                  phasic alertness (P = .017) and

­                  divided attention (P = .017)

all improved significantly. Treated patients also achieved a significant decrease in standard deviation in tonic alertness (P = .048).

For the control group:

­                  there was significant worsening in reaction times in tonic alertness (P = .021).

­                  There were no significant changes in other remaining attentional functions.

­                  "Less consistent changes were found for executive functions subtests, memory and language domains, as well as emotional and quality of life indicators,"

the authors wrote.

The investigators concluded that a computer-based drill and practice cognitive rehabilitation program could be useful for improving attentional functions in patients with MS.

"The most basic attentional function (tonic alertness) seems to be the most sensitive. Its effect on other cognitive domains such as executive functions, language and memory is less well defined, as well as its generalization to quality of life and emotional aspects," they added.