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Published in Neurology March 1, 2011. Basically, yes, MS is causing your brain to atrophy (sucks), but using said brain (say, instead of watching Ellen you post an insightful comment on this forum) can mitigate the negative effects. - Dave
Intellectual enrichment lessens the effect of brain atrophy on learning and memory in multiple sclerosis
James F. Sumowski, PhD, Glenn R. Wylie, DPhil, Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD and John DeLuca, PhD
+ Author Affiliations
From the Kessler Foundation Research Center (J.F.S., G.R.W., N.C., J.D.), West Orange; and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.F.S., G.R.W., N.C., J.D.) and Neurology and Neurosciences (J.D.), UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. James F. Sumowski, Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Foundation Research Center, 300 Executive Drive, Suite 10, West Orange, NJ 07052
Abstract
Objective: Learning and memory impairments are prevalent among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS); however, such deficits are only weakly associated with MS disease severity (brain atrophy). The cognitive reserve hypothesis states that greater lifetime intellectual enrichment lessens the negative impact of brain disease on cognition, thereby helping to explain the incomplete relationship between brain disease and cognitive status in neurologic populations. The literature on cognitive reserve has focused mainly on Alzheimer disease. The current research examines whether greater intellectual enrichment lessens the negative effect of brain atrophy on learning and memory in patients with MS.
Methods: Forty-four persons with MS completed neuropsychological measures of verbal learning and memory, and a vocabulary-based estimate of lifetime intellectual enrichment. Brain atrophy was estimated with third ventricle width measured from 3-T magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo MRIs. Hierarchical regression was used to predict learning and memory with brain atrophy, intellectual enrichment, and the interaction between brain atrophy and intellectual enrichment.
Results: Brain atrophy predicted worse learning and memory, and intellectual enrichment predicted better learning; however, these effects were moderated by interactions between brain atrophy and intellectual enrichment. Specifically, higher intellectual enrichment lessened the negative impact of brain atrophy on both learning and memory.
Conclusion: These findings help to explain the incomplete relationship between multiple sclerosis disease severity and cognition, as the effect of disease on cognition is attenuated among patients with higher intellectual enrichment. As such, intellectual enrichment is supported as a protective factor against disease-related cognitive impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis.
Intellectual enrichment lessens the effect of brain atrophy on learning and memory in multiple sclerosis
James F. Sumowski, PhD, Glenn R. Wylie, DPhil, Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD and John DeLuca, PhD
+ Author Affiliations
From the Kessler Foundation Research Center (J.F.S., G.R.W., N.C., J.D.), West Orange; and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (J.F.S., G.R.W., N.C., J.D.) and Neurology and Neurosciences (J.D.), UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. James F. Sumowski, Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Foundation Research Center, 300 Executive Drive, Suite 10, West Orange, NJ 07052
Abstract
Objective: Learning and memory impairments are prevalent among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS); however, such deficits are only weakly associated with MS disease severity (brain atrophy). The cognitive reserve hypothesis states that greater lifetime intellectual enrichment lessens the negative impact of brain disease on cognition, thereby helping to explain the incomplete relationship between brain disease and cognitive status in neurologic populations. The literature on cognitive reserve has focused mainly on Alzheimer disease. The current research examines whether greater intellectual enrichment lessens the negative effect of brain atrophy on learning and memory in patients with MS.
Methods: Forty-four persons with MS completed neuropsychological measures of verbal learning and memory, and a vocabulary-based estimate of lifetime intellectual enrichment. Brain atrophy was estimated with third ventricle width measured from 3-T magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo MRIs. Hierarchical regression was used to predict learning and memory with brain atrophy, intellectual enrichment, and the interaction between brain atrophy and intellectual enrichment.
Results: Brain atrophy predicted worse learning and memory, and intellectual enrichment predicted better learning; however, these effects were moderated by interactions between brain atrophy and intellectual enrichment. Specifically, higher intellectual enrichment lessened the negative impact of brain atrophy on both learning and memory.
Conclusion: These findings help to explain the incomplete relationship between multiple sclerosis disease severity and cognition, as the effect of disease on cognition is attenuated among patients with higher intellectual enrichment. As such, intellectual enrichment is supported as a protective factor against disease-related cognitive impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis.