Visual but not verbal working memory interferes with balance in patients after optic neuritis suggestive of multiple sclerosis.

Background: Subtle cognitive deficits are present in almost half of the patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS). Similarly, subtle balance deficits can be detected at the earliest stages of the disease. To assess cognitive-motor interference (CMI) in nondisabled CIS patients, we studied postural performance using dual task paradigm in CIS patients presenting with optic neuritis.