Performance in information processing speed is associated with parietal white matter tract integrity in multiple sclerosis.

Background: The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is most frequently used to test processing speed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Functional imaging studies emphasize the importance of frontal and parietal areas for task performance, but the influence of frontoparietal tracts has not been thoroughly studied. We were interested in tract-specific characteristics and their association with processing speed in MS patients.

The Seasonal Fluctuation of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis. Several studies suggest that outdoor temperature can impact fatigue severity, but a systematic study of seasonal variations is lacking.

Methods: Fatigue was assessed with the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) in a temperate climatic zone with an average outdoor temperature of 8.

Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To determine the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the serum of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) to evaluate the potential of serum BDNF as a biomarker for MS.

Methods: Using a recently validated enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) we measured BDNF in patients with MS (pwMS), diagnosed according to the 2001 McDonald criteria and aged between 18 and 70 years, participating in a long-term cohort study with annual clinical visits, including blood sampling, neuropsychological testing, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results were compared with an age- and sex-matched cohort of healthy controls (HC).

Multiple sclerosis and fatigue: A review on the contribution of inflammation and immune-mediated neurodegeneration.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and the leading cause of non-traumatic disability among young and middle-aged adults in the western world. One of its most prevalent and debilitating symptoms is fatigue. Despite the general acceptance of the idea of an immune pathogenesis of MS itself, the role of autoimmunity in the course of MS-fatigue is a matter of debate.

Clinical and imaging assessment of cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), grey matter damage is widespread and might underlie many of the clinical symptoms, especially cognitive impairment. This relation between grey matter damage and cognitive impairment has been lent support by findings from clinical and MRI studies. However, many aspects of cognitive impairment in patients with MS still need to be characterised.

Towards the implementation of 'no evidence of disease activity' in multiple sclerosis treatment: the multiple sclerosis decision model.

Objective: The introduction of new and potent therapies for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) has increased the desire for therapeutic success. There is growing doubt that the mere reduction of relapse rate, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers are exclusive and appropriate factors to monitor the new aim of 'no evidence of disease activity' (NEDA). However, there is no generally accepted definition so far.

Cerebellar abnormalities contribute to disability including cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.

The cerebellum is known to be involved not only in motor but also cognitive and affective processes. Structural changes in the cerebellum in relation to cognitive dysfunction are an emerging topic in the field of neuro-psychiatric disorders. In Multiple Sclerosis (MS) cerebellar motor and cognitive dysfunction occur in parallel, early in the onset of the disease, and the cerebellum is one of the predilection sites of atrophy.

Evaluation of a new approach for semi-automatic segmentation of the cerebellum in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Cerebellar dysfunction is an important contributor to disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), however, few in vivo studies focused on cerebellar volume loss so far. This relates to technical challenges regarding the segmentation of the cerebellum. In this study, we evaluated the semi-automatic ECCET software for performing cerebellar volumetry using high-resolution 3D T1-MR scans in patients with MS and healthy volunteers.

Cognitive dysfunctions in multiple sclerosis--a "multiple disconnection syndrome"?

After giving a brief overview of the cognitive core deficit in multiple sclerosis (MS), pros and cons of considering the clinical characteristics as a form of 'subcortical dementia' are discussed. By comparing the neuropsychological descriptions of MS patients as given in the literature to other neurological diseases which are also associated with neuropsychological deficiencies, we propose the term 'multiple disconnection syndrome' to describe the variety of neuropsychological deficits encountered in MS.