Distinct Neurocognitive Profiles in Multiple Sclerosis Subtypes

An effect size analysis was used to review the neuropsychological literature of multiple sclerosis (MS) to determine whether reliable neurocognitive test deficits and differences between chronic-progressive and relapse-remitting subtypes are apparent. Studies dating back to 1983 were gath-ered and the neuropsychological test results from a total of 1,845 patients with MS, and 1,265 healthy controls, were synthesized using meta-analytic principles. The results indicate that neu-rocognitive impairment is indeed evident in patients with MS on a number of cognitive tasks and test variables. Secondly, distinct patterns of neurocognitive deficits are evident in chronic-pro-gressive and relapse-remitting subtypes of MS. Finally, relations between neurocognitive im-pairment and clinical and demographic attributes of patients with MS were revealed. © 2000 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common idiopathic inflammatory disorder of undetermined etiology that involves the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres, brainstem, optic nerves, cerebellum, and spinal cord (Cummings & Benson, 1992; Kurtzke, 1988; Weinshenker, 1994). The clinical presentation in MS is highly variable, owing to the nearly random distri-bution of demyelinating lesions scattered throughout the central nervous system whit