MS research update - 26 February 2010
- Study shows ethnicity influences rate of progression in MS
- People with MS less able to attribute different mental states to others
Study shows ethnicity influences rate of progression in MS
Previous research has suggested that faster disease progression and greater disability is seen in people with MS who are of African descent. The present study investigates the effect of ethnicity on rate progression and disability.
65 people with primary progressive MS were divided into two groups and classified as either white or of African descent. Time taken from onset of MS to reach EDSS grade 3, 6, and 8 was assessed. In the group of people of African descent, the length of time from onset to reaching EDSS 3 was an average of one year shorter, and to reach EDSS 6 an average two years shorter, than in the white group. The study authors conclude that this study supports earlier research that showed people with MS who are of African descent progress quicker than white people with MS.
Vasconcelos CC, Thuler LC, Dos Santos GA, et al.
Differences in the progression of primary progressive multiple sclerosis in patients of African descent versus white Brazilian patients.
Multiple Sclerosis 2010 [Epub ahead of print].
Medline abstract
People with MS less able to attribute different mental states to others
Forty-one people with MS underwent neuropsychological testing to determine whether they had any cognition problems. 26 people were found to have cognitive impairments and 15 people were found to have no cognitive impairment. A control group consisting of 20 healthy volunteers were used for comparison.
A series of video clips featuring people displaying different emotions were shown to the study group and participants were asked to identify the different mental states displayed by different characters. When the results were analysed, the people with MS who were cognitively impaired were less successful in accurately identifying different mental states. The authors conclude that these findings suggest cognitive problems in MS impair the ability to correctly attribute mental states to others.
Oullett J, Scherzer PB, Rouleau I, et al.
Assessment of social cognition in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 2010; 16(2): 287-96.
Medline abstract