In May 2017, MS/Cancer members learned about
three studies conducted on patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to help its members
stay current on MS research.
These stories are from the National MS Society
website and links are provided after each study.
Study
Finds That Cognitive Function in People with MS Improves with an Online Active
Cognitive Training Program
May 22, 2017
Summary
· In a trial funded by the National MS Society, researchers
found that a special online active cognitive training program improved
cognitive function in people with MS.
· Participants included 135 people with any type of MS who
were experiencing some cognitive problems. They used the training program for
60 hours over 12 weeks, in their own homes.
· This was the largest, controlled trial that has tested a
brain training program in people with MS. Future studies will help make clear
what types of training will have the best results, who will respond most
successfully, and how long benefits last.
· The team (Leigh Charvet, PhD, Lauren Krupp, MD, and
colleagues, now at NYU School of Medicine) published their findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on May 11,
2017.
Background: Cognitive problems
are common in people with MS. Among the cognitive functions that may be
affected are the ability to learn and remember information, to process
information quickly, and to organize, plan, and problem-solve.
Up to now there has not been an adequate treatment that successfully
meets the goal of improving the speed and accuracy of information processing to
improve performance in real-world situations. [More]