Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis: Past, Present, and Future.

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) is common and can have negative effects on quality of life. The clinical presentation can be more subtle and insidious. Thus, cognitive impairment is often underrecognized by both persons with MS (PwMS) and clinicians, leading to underestimation disability due to MS.

A highly reproducible and efficient method for retinal organoid differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells.

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal organoids are three-dimensional cellular aggregates that differentiate and self-organize to closely mimic the spatial and temporal patterning of the developing human retina. Retinal organoid models serve as reliable tools for studying human retinogenesis, yet limitations in the efficiency and reproducibility of current retinal organoid differentiation protocols have reduced the use of these models for more high-throughput applications such as disease modeling and drug screening. To address these shortcomings, the current study aimed to standardize prior differentiation protocols to yield a highly reproducible and efficient method for generating retinal organoids.

De-escalation of Disease-Modifying Therapy for People with Multiple Sclerosis Due to Safety Considerations: Characterizing 1-Year Outcomes in 25 People Who Switched from Ocrelizumab to Diroximel Fumarate.

Introduction: Switching disease-modifying therapy (DMT) may be considered for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) if a patient's current therapy is no longer optimal. This was particularly important during the recent COVID-19 pandemic because of considerations around immune deficiency and impaired vaccine response associated with B cell-depleting DMTs. This real-world, single-center study aimed to evaluate change or decline in functional ability and overall disease stability in people with RRMS who were switched from B cell-depleting ocrelizumab (OCRE) to diroximel fumarate (DRF) because of safety concern related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring the relationship between manual dexterity and cognition in people with multiple sclerosis: 9-hole peg and multiple cognitive functions.

Aim And Rationale: Problems with manual dexterity and cognition impact the everyday performance of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Accumulated findings point to the relationship between deficits in manual dexterity and auditory domains of cognition with a lack of evidence on visuospatial and verbal aspects of cognitive functioning. Therefore, this study explores the relationship between manual dexterity and cognition in a cohort of PwMS.

Cognitive impairment and its impact on employment: A qualitative interview-based study involving healthcare professionals and people living with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Cognitive impairment can considerably impact the work life of people who have multiple sclerosis (MS). Cognitive symptoms are associated with an increased likelihood of unemployment, changes in employment and decreased working hours. This qualitative interview-based study aims to gather real-word experiences and perspectives from both people living with MS and healthcare professionals, to explore how cognitive symptoms are experienced in the workplace, how their impact is addressed, and what can be done to support people in managing and minimizing this impact on employment.

Exploring bereavement processes among BLACK adolescent male CO-VICTIMS of homicide.

Black adolescent males are disproportionally impacted by violence exposure and violent loss. The primary aim of this study was to explore the bereavement experiences of Black adolescent males who have lost a friend or family member to murder. Participants were Black adolescent males between the ages of 14-19 years.

Thalamic atrophy and dysconnectivity are associated with cognitive impairment in a multi-center, clinical routine, real-word study of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Prior research has established a link between thalamic pathology and cognitive impairment (CI) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, the translation of these findings to pwMS in everyday clinical settings has been insufficient.

Objective: To assess which global and/or thalamic imaging biomarkers can be used to identify pwMS at risk for CI and cognitive worsening (CW) in a real-world setting.

Summary of Research: What Is the True Impact of Cognitive Impairment for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis? A Commentary of Symposium Discussions at the 2020 European Charcot Foundation.

Cognitive symptoms affect disease management and activities of daily living for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). This summary of research article summarises previously published discussions ('What is the true impact of cognitive impairment for people living with multiple sclerosis? A commentary of symposium discussions at the 2020 European Charcot Foundation') from the 2020 European Charcot Foundation meeting between a patient expert living with MS, a neuropsychologist and a neurologist about the impact of cognitive impairment on people living with MS. These discussions highlighted that cognitive impairment may be under-prioritised in MS care and has a substantial impact on the daily lives of people living with MS.

Predicting time to serologic diagnosis of AQP4+ NMOSD based on clinical factors and social determinants of health.

Background: Early serologic diagnosis and initiation of targeted therapy are associated with better outcomes in aquaporin-4 IgG positive (AQP4+) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Objective: To determine predictors of time to serologic diagnosis of AQP4+ NMOSD.

Methods: In CANOPTICS, a multi-centre, Canadian cohort study of NMOSD, we retrospectively evaluated time from the first clinical attack to first positive AQP4-IgG serology.

Experiences of people with multiple sclerosis and clinicians in using cognitive behavioural therapies for hidden symptoms: a systematic review and meta-aggregation.

Purpose: Cognitive behavioural therapies (CBTs) are a standard of care for treatment of many 'hidden symptoms' in people with MS (PwMS), such as stress, depression, and fatigue. However, these interventions can vary widely in formatting and may not be tailored for PwMS. To optimize CBTs for MS, understanding the experiences of PwMS and clinicians is essential.

Peering further into the mind's eye: combining visual evoked potential and optical coherence tomography measures enhances insight into the variance in cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Spectral Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) have both emerged as potentially useful biomarkers of cognitive decline in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Their combined use may provide additional predictive value for identifying disease impact, progression, and remyelination capacity above-and-beyond what is captured using either approach alone.

Objective: We examined the relationship between OCT/VEP measures and cognitive functioning in 205 PwMS.

The influence of personality in persons with MS.

Background: Comprehending the influence of personality traits on functional outcomes in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) can aid in tailoring interventions and support strategies. We explored how demographic variables and personality traits predicted current vocation, information processing speed, anxiety and depression symptoms, and disability level in pwMS.

Methods: We used a retrospective chart review on pwMS treated at the London (ON) MS Clinic, that assessed demographic data and personality traits.

Multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis remains one of the most common causes of neurological disability in the young adult population (aged 18-40 years). Novel pathophysiological findings underline the importance of the interaction between genetics and environment. Improvements in diagnostic criteria, harmonised guidelines for MRI, and globalised treatment recommendations have led to more accurate diagnosis and an earlier start of effective immunomodulatory treatment than previously.

Does multilingualism act as a protective factor (cognitive reserve) against cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis?: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting half of persons with MS (PwMS). Cognitive reserve has been associated with delaying the onset and slowing the progression of CI in PwMS. Multilingualism has been demonstrated to be a protective factor against CI in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but has never been studied in PwMS.

Establishing the consistency of a voice recognition symbol digit modalities test analogue.

Background: We previously demonstrated the convergent validity of a fully automated voice recognition analogue of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (VR-SDMT) for evaluating processing speed in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Objective/methods: We aimed to replicate these results in 54 pwMS and 18 healthy controls (HCs), demonstrating the VR-SDMT's reliability.

Results: Significant correlations were found between the VR-SDMT and the traditional oral SDMT in the multiple sclerosis (MS) ( = -0.

Summary of Research: Collaboration Between Healthcare Professionals and People with Multiple Sclerosis to Develop Communication Tools to Improve the Standard of Multiple Sclerosis Care.

This is a summary of a previously published paper: Joint Healthcare Professional and Patient Development of Communication Tools to Improve the Standard of MS Care. It describes a collaboration between people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to identify challenges in multiple sclerosis (MS) care and design tools to improve communication during consultations.

A Canadian case control study investigating demographic and environmental factors associated with MOGAD.

Background: Little is known about demographic and environmental factors associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD).

Objective: To investigate factors associated with MOGAD using a case-control design and validated questionnaire from the Environmental Risk Factors in Multiple Sclerosis Study (EnvIMS).

Methods: We enrolled patients with positive MOG antibody serology and diagnosis of MOGAD at six Canadian centres.

Association between limbic system lesions and anxiety in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) have a higher rate of anxiety and depression than the general population. Depression has been associated with clinical relapses; temporal lesions were shown to predict depression severity. Anxiety is considerably understudied.

Detecting isolated cognitive relapses in persons with MS.

Background: The existence of isolated cognitive relapses (ICRs) in persons with MS (PwMS) has been debated.

Objective: To examine relapses with decline on Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) but no change on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).

Methods: This 3-year prospective cohort study identified PwMS experiencing a relapse with decrease on SDMT.