Barker Lindsay, Healy Brian C, Chan Emily, Leclaire Kaitlynne, Glanz Bonnie I
Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Mult Scler Int. 2019 Jun 3;2019:3584259. doi: 10.1155/2019/3584259. eCollection 2019.
Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet treatment is currently limited. The primary goal of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an at-home, five-week computerized speed of processing (SOP) training intervention for MS patients. In addition, we examined the utility of the intervention to improve speed of information processing, memory, executive function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
Fifteen subjects were assigned five weeks of SOP training, two times per week, for a total of ten sessions. Subjects were trained on five computerized SOP tasks that required processing of increasingly complex visual stimuli in successively shorter presentation times. Subjects were given a neuropsychological test battery that included measures of speed of information processing, verbal memory, visual spatial memory, and executive function. Subjects were also administered patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to assess HRQOL, depression, and work productivity. Neuropsychological and PRO batteries were completed at baseline and after five weeks.
Eighty percent of subjects completed the five-week intervention (n = 12). Significant improvements were observed on some, but not all, measures of speed of information processing, verbal memory, and executive function. There were no significant changes in HRQOL.
This pilot study supports the feasibility of an at-home SOP training intervention for individuals with MS. SOP training was associated with improvements in several cognitive domains. Larger, randomized controlled trials are warranted.
认知障碍是多发性硬化症（MS）的常见症状，但目前治疗手段有限。这项初步研究的主要目的是评估一项为期五周的针对MS患者的居家计算机化处理速度（SOP）训练干预措施的可行性和可接受性。此外，我们还研究了该干预措施在改善信息处理速度、记忆力、执行功能以及健康相关生活质量（HRQOL）方面的效用。
15名受试者接受为期五周的SOP训练，每周两次，共十节课程。受试者接受五项计算机化SOP任务训练，这些任务要求在越来越短的呈现时间内处理日益复杂的视觉刺激。对受试者进行了一套神经心理学测试，包括信息处理速度、言语记忆、视觉空间记忆和执行功能的测量。还对受试者进行了患者报告结局（PRO）测量，以评估HRQOL、抑郁和工作效率。神经心理学测试和PRO测量在基线时和五周后完成。
80%的受试者完成了为期五周的干预（n = 12）。在信息处理速度、言语记忆和执行功能的部分（而非全部）测量指标上观察到显著改善。HRQOL没有显著变化。
这项初步研究支持了针对MS患者的居家SOP训练干预措施的可行性。SOP训练与几个认知领域的改善相关。有必要开展更大规模的随机对照试验。
