Cognition with magnetic resonance imaging findings and social activities in patients with multiple sclerosis in a Japanese cohort

Objective: We investigated the association of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and social activities with cognition in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Cognition was evaluated by the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), using previously published data for 156 Japanese patients with MS. The BICAMS results were analyzed with available MRI data, focusing on hyperintense lesions on T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between the BICAMS scores and social activities (i.e. “student,” “employed full time,” “employed part time,” “homemaker” and “unemployed because of MS”). The independent variables were the BICAMS scores, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale, sex, age at examination, education and disease duration. The dependent variable was the “social activity.”. Results: Analysis of variance showed that patients with MS and more cerebral lesions on MRI had lower scores in all three domains of the BICAMS (the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the second edition of the California Verbal Learning Test and the revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test). Scores of all three domains were also significantly lower in patients with cerebellar lesions. Regarding social activities, patients who were unemployed because of MS had lower BICAMS scores compared with employed patients. However, the BICAMS domain scores did not independently affect the other social activities. Conclusions: Higher numbers of cerebral lesions and the presence of cerebellar lesions evaluated by MRI affect cognitive function based on the BICAMS. Cognitive function might affect social activities in patients with MS.