Publications by authors named "Brigit A De Jong"
Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the Netherlands.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
December 2024
Background: The rising prevalence estimates of multiple sclerosis (MS) globally underscore the imperative for up-to-date epidemiological data specific to the Netherlands.
Methods: Data from two Dutch healthcare databases (Nivel Primary Care Database and Vektis Database) comprising both general practices and hospital electronic health records in 2019 were combined to assess age- and sex-standardized MS prevalence and incidence estimates. Differences in prevalence estimates based on latitude and between primary versus secondary care records were examined.
Importance: Increasing numbers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) use disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Long-term stable disease while taking such medications provides a rationale for considering DMT discontinuation given patient burden, costs, and potential adverse effects of immunomodulating therapy.
Objective: To investigate whether first-line DMT can be safely discontinued in patients with long-term stable MS.
Background: Literature on the intricate relationship between self-reported and objectively assessed cognitive functioning suggests a discrepancy between self-reported cognitive complaints (SCC) and actual test performance.
Objectives: To investigate the interplay between patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and objective cognitive functioning using network analysis in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).
Methods: We collected PROMs on anxiety, depression, fatigue and SCC, and cognitive functioning across six domains ( = 703 PwMS; 71% female, mean age = 46.
Background: Biomarkers of neuronal and axonal damage (serum neurofilament light (sNfL) and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP)) may provide insight into the aetiology of natalizumab wearing-off symptoms (WoSs).
Objectives: We investigated the longitudinal association between and predictive value of sNfL and sGFAP and the occurrence of WoS in MS patients treated with natalizumab.
Methods: We performed longitudinal measurements of sNfL and sGFAP in NEXT-MS trial participants who completed a questionnaire about WoS.
Background: Patient involvement is most common during the first phases of a research project. Despite good intentions, maintaining meaningful collaborations throughout the research process doesn't seem easy. Several training programmes for researchers and patients have been developed to stimulate continuous involvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: This study aimed to investigate how shared decision-making (SDM) and the use of different types of outcome information are applied in routine care management for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in an academic outpatient clinic.
Methods: This qualitative study used the following: (a) observations of clinical encounters (N = 23) between patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs), (b) interviews with those patients (N = 17) and (c) interviews with those HCPs (N = 7). HCPs were not trained in SDM before the study.
Article Synopsis
- Serum neurofilament light (sNfL) serves as a biomarker for neuro-axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) but its clinical usage is still limited; this study assessed how its implementation affects clinical decisions at the MS Center Amsterdam.
- Over the study period (August 2021-December 2022), sNfL was evaluated in various contexts, with a notable change in clinical decisions in 19.3% of cases, especially when assessing new symptoms or when higher sNfL levels were present.
- The findings suggest that integrating sNfL into clinical practice improved decision-making certainty and potentially adjusted expectations regarding MRI activity, indicating its potential value in patient care while calling for further research
Background: Digital monitoring of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) using smartphone-based monitoring tools is a promising method to assess disease activity and progression.
Objective: To study cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between active and passive digital monitoring parameters and MRI volume measures in PwMS.
Methods: In this prospective study, 92 PwMS were included.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, caused by an autoimmune reaction. Treatment options have largely increased over the years. In this article, we present two clinical cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently gives rise to depressive and anxiety symptoms, but these are often undertreated. This study investigated the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) on psychological outcomes and quality of life (QoL), and whether they mediate treatment effects on MS-related cognitive problems.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included MS patients with cognitive complaints (n = 99) and compared MBCT (n = 32) and CRT (n = 32) to enhanced treatment as usual (n = 35).
Background: The heterogeneous nature of cognitive impairment in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) hampers understanding of the underlying mechanisms and developing patient-tailored interventions. We aim to identify and classify cognitive profiles in PwMS, comparing these to cognitive status (preserved versus impaired).
Methods: We included 1213 PwMS (72% female, age 45.
Objective: To examine the energy demand of walking relative to aerobic capacity in people with multiple sclerosis.
Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.
Patients: A total of 45 people with multiple sclerosis (32 females), median disease duration 15 years (interquartile range (IQR) 9; 20), median Expanded Disability Status Scale 4 (min-max range: 2.
Background: Cognitive treatment response varies highly in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Identification of mechanisms is essential for predicting response.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether brain network function predicts response to cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
Background: Up to 65% of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) develop cognitive deficits, which hampers their ability to work, participating in day-to-day life and ultimately reducing quality of life (QoL). Early cognitive symptoms are often less tangible to PwMS and their direct environment and are noticed only when symptoms and work functioning problems become more advanced, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cognitive impairment occurs in up to 65% of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), negatively affecting daily functioning and health-related quality of life. In general, neuropsychological testing is not part of standard MS-care due to insufficient time and trained personnel. Consequently, a baseline assessment of cognitive functioning is often lacking, hampering early identification of cognitive decline and change within a person over time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Extended interval dosing (EID) of natalizumab is a promising strategy to optimise treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). Personalised EID by therapeutic drug monitoring can enable further extension of treatment intervals.
Methods: The NEXT-MS trial is an investigator-initiated prospective phase IV non-randomised study.
Objective: To examine (1) the association between childhood diet and developing MS, age of onset and onset type and (2) the association between diet at age 50 and disability and MRI volumes in people with MS (PwMS).
Methods: The study enrolled 361 PwMS born in 1966 and 125 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Information on individual dietary components (fruit, vegetables, red meat, oily fish, whole-grain bread and candy, snacks and fast food) and MS risk factors at the age of 10 and 50 years were collected using questionnaires.
Background: The relationship between being overweight during early life and disease course in multiple sclerosis (MS) is unresolved. We investigated the association between being overweight or obese during early life (childhood and adolescence) and MS case status, age of first symptom onset and onset type in people with MS (pwMS) of the same birth year.
Methods: We enrolled 363 PwMS and 125 healthy controls (HC) from Project Y, a Dutch population-based cross-sectional cohort study including all PwMS born in 1966 and age and sex-matched HC.
Background: Cognitive impairment in people with MS (PwMS) has primarily been investigated using conventional imaging markers or fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration separately. However, the single use of these markers do only partially explain the large heterogeneity found in PwMS.
Objective: To investigate the use of multimodal (bio)markers: i.
Background: Suboptimal performance during neuropsychological testing frequently occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to unreliable cognitive outcomes. Neurophysiological alterations correlate with MS-related cognitive impairment, but studies have not yet considered performance validity.
Objectives: To investigate neurophysiological markers of cognitive impairment in MS, while explicitly addressing performance validity.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined the alignment and differences between health technology assessment (HTA) reports and clinical guidelines (CGs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments across various European countries, finding that 90% of recommendations were similar but differed in treatment lines and subindications.
- - Analysis included 132 HTA reports and 9 CGs for 16 MS medications approved between 1995 and 2020, revealing that while HTA reports frequently referenced CGs and clinician input, not all new HTA recommendations were incorporated into CGs.
- - The authors suggest that increased dialogue among stakeholders and consultation of each other's documents could enhance the consistency and transparency of treatment recommendations, ultimately improving patient access to care.
Background: Cognitive problems, both complaints and objective impairments, are frequent and disabling in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and profoundly affect daily living. However, intervention studies that focus on cognitive problems that patients experience in their daily lives are limited. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on patient-reported cognitive complaints in MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Natalizumab is effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2021, the European Medicines Agency approved the subcutaneous (SC) variant of natalizumab which can be used instead of intravenous administration. However, the course of drug levels varies between administration routes, and the Food and Drug Administration rejected the request for approval of natalizumab SC for reasons that were not disclosed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration are pathological hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are blood-based biomarkers for neurogenesis, axonal damage and astrocyte reactivity, respectively. We hypothesize that exercise has a neuroprotective effect on MS reflected by normalization of BDNF, NfL and GFAP levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder impacting physical, cognitive, and psychosocial health. The disease course, severity, and presence of symptoms differ within and between persons over time and are unpredictable. Given the preference-sensitive nature of many key decisions to be made, and the increasing numbers of disease-modifying therapies, shared decision-making (SDM) with patients seems to be key in offering optimum care and outcomes for people suffering from MS.
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