ORCID
- Jennifer Freeman: 0000-0002-4072-9758
Abstract
Background: Cognitive rehabilitation and exercise training are promising approaches for improving cognition in persons with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Identifying heterogeneity of change and factors that influence the effects of cognitive rehabilitation and/or exercise training on cognitive outcomes at the individual level have direct relevance for developing tailored and optimized rehabilitation interventions for improving cognition in progressive MS. Objective: This study involved a secondary data analysis from the CogEx trial in progressive MS. This study first described heterogeneity of change in cognitive processing speed (CPS) across the intervention conditions and then identified possible adherence/compliance, baseline performance, and demographic/clinical variables as correlates of rehabilitation-related CPS changes. Methods: A total of 311 persons with progressive MS who were pre-screened for impaired CPS completed 12 weeks of combined cognitive rehabilitation (or sham) and exercise training (or sham). CPS was measured before and after the 12-week period. As potential correlates of CPS changes, we measured adherence/compliance (ie, treatment exposure), performance outcomes at baseline, as well as demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline. Results: There was heterogeneity of change in CPS across the 4 intervention conditions. We further identified baseline learning and memory impairment and premorbid intelligence quotient (IQ), but not adherence/compliance, other baseline performance outcomes, or demographic/clinical characteristics as significant correlates of CPS changes across the 4 intervention conditions. Conclusions: The overall pattern of results suggests that future trials in this area might account for impaired learning and memory and/or premorbid IQ as potential covariates, or more carefully consider the role of reserve within rehabilitation interventions in progressive MS.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2025-05-04
Publication Title
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
Volume
39
Issue
7
ISSN
1545-9683
Acceptance Date
2025-03-04
Deposit Date
2025-06-23
Additional Links
Keywords
cognition, cognitive rehabilitation, exercise, multiple sclerosis, response heterogeneity
First Page
499
Last Page
514
Recommended Citation
Sandroff, B., Motl, R., Hernandez, R., Amato, M., Brichetto, G., Chataway, J., Chiaravalloti, N., Cutter, G., Dalgas, U., DeLuca, J., Farrell, R., Feys, P., Filippi, M., Freeman, J., Inglese, M., Meza, C., Rocca, M., Salter, A., & Feinstein, A. (2025) 'Correlates of Processing Speed Change With Combined Cognitive Rehabilitation and Exercise in Progressive MS: Secondary Analysis of the CogEx Trial', Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 39(7), pp. 499-514. Available at: 10.1177/15459683251331586
