According to this new Italian study (below), the answer is an encouraging yes. - Dave
Preservation of motor skill learning in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Tomassini V, Johansen-Berg H, Leonardi L, Paixão L, Jbabdi S, Palace J, Pozzilli
C, Matthews PM.
Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Dept of Clinical
Neurology, Uni. of Oxford,UK/Dept of Neurological Sci.'La Sapienza' Uni., Rome,
Italy.
Background: Several studies have demonstrated benefits of rehabilitation in
multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the neuroscientific foundations for
rehabilitation in MS are poorly established.Objectives: As rehabilitation and
motor learning share similar mechanisms of brain plasticity, we test whether the
dynamics of skill learning are preserved in MS patients relative to controls.
Methods: MS patients and controls learned a repeating sequence of hand movements
and were assessed for short-term learning. Long-term learning was tested in
another cohort of patients and controls practising the same sequence daily for
two weeks. Results: Despite differences in baseline performance, the dynamics and
extent of improvements were comparable between MS and control groups for both the
short- and long-term learning. Even the most severely damaged patients were
capable of performance improvements of similar magnitude to that seen in
controls. After one week of training patients performed as well as the controls
at baseline. Conclusions: Mechanisms for short- and long-term plasticity may
compensate for impaired functional connectivity in MS to mediate behavioural
improvements. Future studies are needed to define the neurobiological substrates
of this plasticity and the extent to which mechanisms of plasticity in patients
may be distinct from those used for motor learning in controls.
Preservation of motor skill learning in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Tomassini V, Johansen-Berg H, Leonardi L, Paixão L, Jbabdi S, Palace J, Pozzilli
C, Matthews PM.
Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Dept of Clinical
Neurology, Uni. of Oxford,UK/Dept of Neurological Sci.'La Sapienza' Uni., Rome,
Italy.
Background: Several studies have demonstrated benefits of rehabilitation in
multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the neuroscientific foundations for
rehabilitation in MS are poorly established.Objectives: As rehabilitation and
motor learning share similar mechanisms of brain plasticity, we test whether the
dynamics of skill learning are preserved in MS patients relative to controls.
Methods: MS patients and controls learned a repeating sequence of hand movements
and were assessed for short-term learning. Long-term learning was tested in
another cohort of patients and controls practising the same sequence daily for
two weeks. Results: Despite differences in baseline performance, the dynamics and
extent of improvements were comparable between MS and control groups for both the
short- and long-term learning. Even the most severely damaged patients were
capable of performance improvements of similar magnitude to that seen in
controls. After one week of training patients performed as well as the controls
at baseline. Conclusions: Mechanisms for short- and long-term plasticity may
compensate for impaired functional connectivity in MS to mediate behavioural
improvements. Future studies are needed to define the neurobiological substrates
of this plasticity and the extent to which mechanisms of plasticity in patients
may be distinct from those used for motor learning in controls.