The Norwegian translation of the brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS)

The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS): Normative values with gender, age and education corrections in the Turkish population

Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and can be demonstrated in all stages and subtypes of the disease. The most recently created battery to evaluate information processing speed, verbal and visual memory to evaluate cognitive functions in MS is the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS). The aim of this study is to predict the normal values of BICAMS for our society according to age, gender, and education duration. Two hundred ninety-four healthy volunteers, grouped by age, gender, and education duration, were included in the study. Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT-II), and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMTR) tests included in the BICAMS battery were applied to all patients. Linear regression analysis method was used to estimate the expected BICAMS test scores of the study participants according to their age, gender and education period. There was no difference between SDMT, CVLT-II, and BVMT-R results in men and women (p = 0.354, p = 0.110, p = 0.410, respectively). SDMT, CVLT-II, and BVMT-R results differed significantly in all age and education level groups (p < 0.001). It was determined that the most effective factor that effects the BICAMS results was the education level. It is thought that normal values for age, gender, and education level can facilitate the use of the battery in clinical practice, as well as for longitudinal patient assessments.

Brief international cognitive assessment for MS (BICAMS) and NEDA maintenance in MS patients: A 2-year follow-up longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) has been validated in many cross-sectional studies. However, longitudinal data on BICAMS subset trajectories and their correlation with disease activity during follow-up are scarce.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to (i) assess BICAMS changes in MS patients initiating high-efficacy disease-modifying-treatments (DMTs), (ii) compare these changes based on maintenance of "no-evidence-of-disease-activity" (NEDA-3) status over 24 months, and (iii) determine baseline clinical parameters predictive of cognitive changes.

METHODS

We enrolled 101 MS patients (mean age:40,45 ± 11; Relapsing-Remitting-MS:81%) initiating highly-effective-DMTs. Patients underwent Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), BICAMS, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), at baseline and after 24 months. Regression-based change index (RB-CI) had been used for cognitive change evaluation over follow-up.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 78 (77.3%) patients maintained NEDA-3 status. Considering a 90% of confidence levels for RB-CI, 12 (11.9%) improved at SDMT, 13 (12.9%) at CVLT-II and 13 (12.9%) at BVMT-R; while 7 (6.9%) were classified as worsened at SDMT, 11 (10.9%) at CVLT-II and 8 (7.9%) at BVMT-R. SDMT scores significantly improved at follow-up for the entire group (p = 0.003) and in patients maintaining NEDA-3 (p < 0.001). The multivariable regression model assessing the SDMT improvement (n = 12; z = 1.65), was significant and explained 21% of the variance (p = 0.038; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.212). Lower EDSS proved to be an independent predictor of SDMT reliable improvement (p = 0.027) in our sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that early disease activity control-especially in patients with low baseline disability-may yield significant benefits even in terms of cognitive performance.

Cognitive phenotypes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with different disease duration, applying the international classification of cognitive disorders in MS (IC-CoDiMS)

Objective: Cognitive impairment is experienced by 40-70% of multiple sclerosis patients, with information processing speed and memory most affected. Until now, cognitive results classified patients as impaired and not impaired. With this dichotomous approach, it is difficult to identify, in a heterogeneous group of patients with cognitive impairment, which cognitive domain(s) are most altered. This study aims to identify cognitive phenotypes in a clinical cohort of adult patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) using the International Classification of Cognitive Disorders in MS (IC-CoDiMS) and to characterize their clinical features. Methods: Three hundred patients with RRMS underwent neuropsychological assessment with the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRBN-T) and the Brief International Cognitive Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS). Results: In our cohort, the mean age was 41.38 [11.48 SD] years, and 205 [68.3%] were women. At the -1 SD threshold, 49% were cognitively intact, 25% had uni-domain impairment, 17% had bi-domain impairment, and 9% had multi-domain impairment. Processing speed was the most frequent single-domain impairment, followed by memory and verbal fluency. At the -1.5 SD threshold, 74.7% were cognitively intact, 17% had uni-domain impairment, 6% had bi-domain impairment, had bi-domain impairment, and 3.0% had multi-domain impairment. Memory was the most frequent single-domain impairment, followed by processing speed and verbal fluency. Conclusions: This study corroborates the importance of determining cognitive phenotypes through taxonomy (IC-CoDiMS). In addition, it contributes to improving the classification of cognitive phenotypes in patients with RRMS to enhance the development of more effective treatments and cognitive interventions.

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis phenotypes: Neuropsychological assessment in a portuguese sample

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment affects 40-65% of MS patients, encompassing all disease stages and types of clinical courses. This estimation is based on different instruments used and population normative data.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the cognitive function in a hospital-based cohort of Portuguese MS patients, to allow estimating the prevalence of cognitive impairment in different phenotypes.

METHODS

Three hundred and thirteen patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) underwent neuropsychological assessment with the brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests (BRBN-T) and the brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS).

RESULTS

Differences were observed in the cognitive impairment profile of different disease phenotypes and of the different disease severity stages. RRMS patients performed better in the cognitive test of the BRBN-T and BICAMS than those with progressive disease phenotypes. Relationships between cognitive impairment and disability and professional status were relevant. Although similarities could be observed in the cognitive profile of the MS phenotypes, with predominant involvement of verbal memory, verbal fluency, and information processing speed, the latter was found to be more frequent as the disease progressed.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes to improve knowledge about the cognitive profile of the different MS phenotypes and understand the cognitive characteristics of Portuguese patients.

The relation between the symbol digit modalities test, fatigue, depression, and anxiety symptoms in a Belgian MS cohort

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with high prevalence of cognitive impairment, ranging from 40 to 80%. The purpose of this single-center retrospective study was to examine the relation between cognitive function, as measured by Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), with fatigue, anxiety, and depression symptoms in a Belgian cohort of patients with MS.

METHODS

Sociodemographic and clinical data were analyzed in 66 (F:40, M:26) Belgian patients with a diagnosis of MS. The cognitive function was assessed with the oral version of SDMT, depression and anxiety symptoms with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD), fatigue symptoms with the French valid version of the Fatigue Impact Scale in MS (EMIF-SEP), which is a scale composed of four dimensions (cognitive, physical, social, and psychological) allowing a multidimensional evaluation of fatigue.

RESULTS

The multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that lower SDMT scores were associated with higher EDSS score and psychological dimension of fatigue symptoms. No association were found between SDMT and anxiety or depression symptoms. Conversely, higher depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with higher total fatigue symptoms, but lower physical dimension of fatigue symptoms. Higher anxiety symptoms were also independently associated with higher social dimension of fatigue symptoms.

CONCLUSION

A complex relationship exists between cognitive performance, fatigue, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Belgian people with MS. The level of disability and fatigue adversely affects the cognitive function in MS, whereas depression and anxiety seem to not have a significant effect. A more complex relationship exists between fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms, with a divergent interplay between the different dimensions of fatigue that supports the multidimensional approach to assessing fatigue in MS.

Microstructural changes precede depression in patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis lesions in the brain and spinal cord can lead to different symptoms, including cognitive and mood changes. In this study we explore the temporal relationship between early microstructural changes in subcortical volumes and cognitive and emotional function in a longitudinal cohort study of patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

METHODS

In vivo imaging in forty-six patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis was performed annually over 3 years magnetic resonance imaging. Microstructural changes were estimated in subcortical structures using the free water fraction, a diffusion-based MRI metric. In parallel, patients were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale amongst other tests. Predictive structural equation modeling was set up to further explore the relationship between imaging and the assessment scores. In a general linear model analysis, the cohort was split into patients with higher and lower depression scores.

RESULTS

Nearly all subcortical diffusion microstructure estimates at the baseline visit correlate with the depression score at the 2 years follow-up. The predictive nature of baseline free water estimates and depression subscores after 2 years are confirmed in the predictive structural equation modeling analysis with the thalamus showing the greatest effect size. The general linear model analysis shows patterns of MRI free water differences in the thalamus and amygdala/hippocampus area between participants with high and low depression score.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggests a relationship between higher levels of free-water in the subcortical structures in an early stage of Multiple Sclerosis and depression symptoms at a later stage of the disease.

Assessment of cognitive function and its predictors in patients with multiple sclerosis: a case-control study

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive dysfunction can be seen in patients with MS (PwMS) and has been gaining attention in recent years. This study aimed to assess cognitive function and its determinants in PwMS using Addenbrooke Cognitive Assessment Battery (ACE-R).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This case-control study was conducted at an outpatient MS clinic in Istanbul. The sample consisted of 60 consecutive patients with definite MS and 60 matched controls. Cognitive function was evaluated by using the ACE-R. Subjective cognitive function, anxiety, depression, and fatigue were evaluated by validated scales.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 38.8, and the time since diagnosis was nine years. The majority of the patients had relapsing-remitting MS. Compared to age, sex, and education-matched healthy controls, all ACE-R scores, attention/orientation (p = 0.020), memory (p = 0.003), verbal fluency (p = 0.002), language (p = 0.002), visuospatial (p = 0.001), and general cognitive functioning (p < 0.001), were found to be lower in PwMS. The patients obtained the lowest scores in memory and fluency and the highest in the visuospatial domain. Age, education, mobility, subjective cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, depression, and fatigue were associated with cognitive test scores. However, only education, depression, and fatigue remained significant in the multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed impaired domains of cognitive functioning and its predictors in PwMS. Understanding cognitive dysfunction and its predictors in PwMS may enable healthcare providers to identify patients who might benefit from interventions to improve cognitive function. Assessment of PwMS at outpatient clinics with a practical cognitive test that does not require special competence can be suggested.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Brief Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) International Validations

Cognitive impairment is a prevalent and debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) but is not routinely addressed in clinical care. The Brief Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) was developed in 2012 to screen and monitor MS patients’ cognition. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify, synthesise, and critically appraise current BICAMS’ international validations. The literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science electronic databases in August 2022. Quantitative, peer-reviewed adult studies, which followed the BICAMS international validation protocol and were published in English, were included. The search identified a total of 203 studies, of which 26 were eligible for inclusion. These reported a total of 2833 adults with MS and 2382 healthy controls (HC). The meta-analysis showed that BICAMS identified impaired cognitive functioning in adults with MS compared to HC for all three subtests: information processing speed (g = 0.854, 95% CI = 0.765, 0.944, p < 0.001), immediate verbal recall (g = 0.566, 95% CI = 0.459, 0.673, p < 0.001) and immediate visual recall (g = 0.566, 95% CI = 0.487, 0.645, p < 0.001). Recruitment sites and strategies limit the generalisability of results. BICAMS is a valid and feasible international MS cognitive assessment.

Brief international cognitive assessment for MS (BICAMS) and global brain volumes in early stages of MS - A longitudinal correlation study

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis, even in the early stages of the disease. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS) is a short screening tool developed to assess cognitive function in everyday clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate associations between volumetric brain measures derived from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination and performance on BICAMS subtests in early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS

BICAMS was used to assess cognitive function in 49 MS patients at baseline and after one and two years. The patients were separated into two groups (with or without cognitive impairment) based on their performances on BICAMSs subtests. MRI data were analysed by a software tool (MSMetrix), yielding normalized measures of global brain volumes and lesion volumes. Associations between cognitive tests and brain MRI measures were analysed by running correlation analyses, and differences between subgroups and changes over time with independent and paired samples tests, respectively.

RESULTS

The strongest baseline correlations were found between the BICAMS subtests and normalized whole brain volume (NBV) and grey matter volume (NGV); processing speed r = 0.54/r = 0.48, verbal memory r = 0.49/ r = 0.42, visual memory r = 0.48 /r = 0.39. Only the verbal memory test had significant correlations with T2 and T1 lesion volumes (LV) at both time points; T2LV r = 0.39, T1LV r = 0.38. There were significant loss of grey matter and white matter volume overall (NGV p<0.001, NWV p = 0.003), as well as an increase in T1LV (p = 0.013). The longitudinally defined confirmed cognitively impaired (CCI) and preserved (CCP) patients showed significant group differences on all MRI volume measures at both time points, except for NWV. Only the CCI subgroup showed significant white matter atrophy (p = 0.006) and increase in T2LV (p = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study found strong correlations between whole brain and grey matter volumes and performance on the BICAMS subtests as well as significant changes in global volumes from baseline to follow-up with clear differences between patients defined as cognitively impaired and preserved at both baseline and follow-up.

Tunisian version of the brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis: Validation and normative values

BACKGROUND

The Brief International cognitive assessment for Multiple sclerosis (BICAMS) is a specific batterie used to identify cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a reliable and easy way. To date, for the Arabic-speaking Tunisian MS patients, there is no consensus for the use of specific cognitive batteries in MS.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our work was to develop and validate the Tunisian version of the BICAMS (T-BICAMS) and to determine our own normative values.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with MS and followed up in the department of Neurology of Razi Hospital were recruited and matched to healthy controls according to age, sex and educational level. T-BICAMS validity was established by comparing MS and healthy controls for symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), brief visual memory test (BVMT-R) and Tunisian verbal learning tests (TVLT) which was used instead of the California verbal learning test (CVLT-II).

RESULTS

The 104 MS patients and 104 healthy controls were comparable for age, sex and educational level. The MS group exhibited lower performances in all T-BICAMS domains compared to healthy controls: SDMT (x003Dp<10^-3), BVMT-R (p = 0.002) and TVLT (p x003D<10^-3). T-BICAMS Cronbach alpha value was 0.741. Normative values were identified for patients with MS: SDMT [39-40], BVMT-R [26-27] and TVLT [43-44]. Cognitive impairment was identified among 76 patients (73.1%). Males, lower educational levels and progressive MS were associated with a more severe cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study has established the BICAMS as a valid and reliable tool for the identification of cognitive impairment in the Tunisian MS population.

Identifying Early Neuropsychological Indicators of Cognitive Involvement in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system that is most commonly seen in early to middle adulthood, although it can be diagnosed during childhood or later in life. While cognitive impairment can become more prevalent and severe as the disease progresses, signs of cognitive involvement can be apparent in the early stages of the disease. In this review, we discuss the prevalence and types of cognitive impairment seen in early MS, including the specific measures used to identify them, as well as the challenges in characterizing their frequency and progression. In addition to examining the progression of early cognitive involvement over time, we explore the clinical factors associated with early cognitive involvement, including demographics, level of physical disability, disease modifying therapy use, vocational status, and psychological and physical symptoms. Given the prevalence and functional impact these impairments can have for persons with MS, considerations for clinicians are provided, such as the role of early cognitive screenings and the importance of comprehensive neuropsychological assessments.

A two-year longitudinal follow-up of cognitive performance assessed by BICAMS in newly diagnosed patients with MS

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may occur at any stage and with any subtype of the disease. Screening and monitoring of cognitive function should therefore be implemented into everyday clinical neurology practice. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) was developed for this purpose. Although several cross-sectional studies have validated BICAMS, longitudinal studies evaluating its use as part of a clinical follow-up routine are still lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate cognitive function and trajectories of change assessed by the BICAMS test battery in a cohort of newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients examined at baseline and after 12 and 24 months.

METHODS

BICAMS was used to assess cognitive function in 58 RRMS patients, who also filled in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC), and underwent standard neurological evaluations at baseline and at the two follow-ups.

RESULTS

A total of 27 patients (46.6%) were defined as cognitively impaired at baseline on at least one test, and 22 (37.9%) were defined as impaired at follow-up after 24 months. Throughout the study, 8 (13.8%) and 4 (6.9%) patients were consistently defined as impaired on two or three tests, respectively. The mean raw scores on two BICAMS subtests (SDMT and CVLT-II) improved significantly from baseline to the first follow-up, and then remained stable the next year, whereas the visual memory test (BVMT-R) were overall unchanged from baseline to the end of the study. The correlations between the scores on HADS, FSMC and the BICAMS subtests were non-significant at baseline, but weak to moderate negative correlations were found at the one- and two-year follow-ups.

CONCLUSION

The patients showed improved test results from baseline to the first follow-up examination, indicating that an effect of previous practise should be taken into account when interpreting the results. With results showing both trajectories of stability and change, our study supported the validity of including BICAMS as part of a clinical follow-up routine of RRMS patients. Anxiety, depression, fatigue and cognition should always be assessed at the same time to reveal interaction effects that are expected to affect the daily-life functioning of at least some of the RRMS patients.

The relationship between cognition, depression, fatigue, and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, and neurodegenerative central nervous system disorder. MS usually causes disability, cognitive deficiency, fatigue, and depression symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

To assess cognitive functions of people with MS (pwMS) and investigate the impact of depression, fatigue, and disability on cognitive functions.

METHODS

We administered the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) battery to assess 200 pwMS. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to evaluate disability levels. Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used, respectively, for fatigue and depression levels.

RESULTS

EDSS and FSS scores were significantly higher in those with a disease duration of 5 years or more. Those with the EDSS ≥ 4 were found to have lower BICAMS performances and higher FSS scores. There was a significant difference in Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) performances between the groups with and without fatigue (FSS ≥ 4 and FSS < 4, respectively). When depression and fatigue symptoms concur or in the existence of just one of them or none of them, significant differences in terms of SDMT performances have been shown.

CONCLUSION

The level of disability and fatigue adversely affects the cognitive functions of pwMS; depression has no significant effect. BICAMS that is specific for MS can be beneficial to assess the cognitive state of pwMS.