Abstract Details

Title The Association Between MRI Brain Volumes and Computerized Cognitive Scores of People with Multiple Sclerosis

Topic Multiple Sclerosis

Presentation(s) P1 - Poster Session 1 (12:00 PM-1:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 9-017

Objective

To explore the associations between brain volumes and cognitive scores of a computerized cognitive assessment battery (CAB, NeuroTrax) among people with multiple sclerosis.

Background Cognitive impairment is common and disabling among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), but is not often monitored or only partially screened due to complexity of evaluation. Computerized cognitive assessment facilitates the incorporation of multi-domain cognitive monitoring into routine clinical follow up.

Design/Methods Participants were tested with the CAB and underwent brain MRI within specified time intervals. The global cognitive score (GCS) is the average of age and education adjusted scores of the various cognitive domains (memory, information processing speed, attention, executive function, motor and verbal). Whole brain volume (WBV), Gray matter volume (GMV), White matter volume (WMV), Thalamic volume, Hippocampal volume, white matter lesion volume and lateral ventricles volume were assessed by IcoMetrix, a fully automated tissue and lesion segmentation and quantification software, that uses 3D T1-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRIs.

Results

201 PwMS were tested with both CAB and MRI within 180 days (Age: 52.3±11.1, 143 (71%) female). Significant correlations were found between the GCS and WBV, WMV, GMV, Thalamic volume and FLAIR lesion volume (Spearmans rho's: 0.33, 0.3, 0.43, 0.4, -0.26, P<0.01, respectively). Correlation coefficients remained significant but decreased as the time between MRI and CAB increased. The number of impaired cognitive domains was also associated with both lesion volume and GMV (rho=0.25, -0.44; P<0.05, <0.01, respectively) .The only cognitive domain score that was associated with Hippocampal volume was memory (rho=0.27, P<0.05).

Conclusions Computerized cognitive scores are significantly associated with quantified MRI. These findings demonstrate the added information that can be derived from integrating digital assessment tools into the routine clinical assessment of PwMS.

Authors/Disclosures
Daniel Golan, MD (Carmel Medical Center) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Jared Srinivasan	No disclosure on file
Myassar Zarif	Myassar Zarif has nothing to disclose.
Barbara Bumstead, NP	Ms. Bumstead has nothing to disclose.
Marijean Buhse (Stony Brook University)	Marijean Buhse has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen.
	No disclosure on file
Jeffrey A. Wilken, PhD (NAF)	No disclosure on file
Cynthia L. Sullivan, PhD (Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Diana Sima	Diana Sima has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of icometrix.
Wim Van Hecke, PhD (University Hospital Brussels)	Dr. Van Hecke has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of icometrix.
Mark Gudesblatt, MD (South Shore Neurology Assoc. PC)	The institution of Dr. Gudesblatt has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for genentech. The institution of Dr. Gudesblatt has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen.