MS AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 20:1951–1955, November/December 1999 MR Lesion Load and Cognitive Function in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease most often associated with progressive physical impairment; however, its effects are noted to extend beyond physical disability. Our purpose was to determine the relationship between T2 lesion volume and neurocognitive and physical disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. METHODS: We studied a cohort of 19 patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Of this group, there were 15 women and four men from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. This volunteer sample was selected from a larger group of 53 patients with MS in our longitudinal MS study because they had been untreated with any beta-interferon medications, had been followed for at least 12 months, and had a clinical status of relapsing-remitting MS. RESULTS: Of 12 neurocognitive parameters tested, two correlated significantly with lesion loads. The correlation of the Symbol-Digit Modalities test, which analyzes information-pro-cessing speed, was significant (P 5.0204). The correlation of the fifth trial of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test, which tests verbal long-term memory, was also significant (P 5.0348). None of the other 10 neurocognitive examinations, however, showed a significant correlation with total lesion volume (Paced Auditory Serial Addition test-1.6, P 5.7381; Paced Auditor