Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): Normative study of 428 healthy participants ages 18 to 89.

Background: The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT) is a self-administered, iPad®-based, computerized system for quantifying neuroperformance (cognition, upper and lower extremity motor function, and vision) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: The goal of the study is to provide regression-based norms for the four MSPT test modules to adjust for the influence of demographic variables (age, education, and sex).

Methods: The MSPT was administered to 428 cognitively intact, healthy adults (ages 18 to 89 years). Participants were recruited to achieve a demographically stratified sample from four geographically diverse United States testing sites.

Results: The amount of shared variance in test performance accounted for by demographic variables was 18-23% for an upper extremity motor test, 31% for a walking speed test, 32% for a low contrast visual acuity test, and 48% for a cognitive test. All four test modules were significantly influenced by age (linear and non-linear effects) and education. Additionally, sex influenced performance on the cognitive and walking speed tests.

Conclusion: This study provides regression-based equations that can enhance the clinical interpretation of MSPT scores by adjusting for the potential influences of age, education, and sex.