Jeng Brenda, Zheng Peixuan, Motl Robert W
Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Brain Sci. 2025 Mar 5;15(3):274. doi: 10.3390/brainsci15030274.
: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often demonstrate both cognitive and physical dysfunctions, particularly with greater age and lower physical activity levels, and there is evidence of a relationship between these outcomes (i.e., cognitive-motor coupling) in MS. To date, little is known about cognitive-motor coupling when controlling for chronological age and levels of physical activity. : We examined cognitive-motor coupling in people with MS while accounting for chronological age and physical activity. : The sample included 290 people with MS between the ages of 22 and 77 years. Participants underwent the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) for cognitive processing speed and the California Verbal Learning and Memory Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II) for verbal learning and memory. Participants completed the 6-Minute Walk and the Timed 25-Foot Walk tests for walking endurance and speed, respectively. Participants wore an accelerometer for a 7-day period to measure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). : The bivariate correlation analyses indicated that cognitive function had moderate-to-strong associations with motor function (range of between 0.433 and 0.459). The linear regression analyses indicated cognitive-motor coupling between SDMT and motor function (with a range of β between 0.139 and 0.145) when controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. The regression analyses further indicated that the CVLT-II was associated with motor function (with a range of β between 0.125 and 0.135) when controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. When age and MVPA were entered into the regression analyses, SDMT was still associated with the motor function of individuals (β = 0.119), and CVLT-II was still associated with the motor function of individuals (with a range of β between 0.115 and 0.124). Cognitive-motor coupling is present in people with MS independent of chronological age and levels of physical activity. This warrants further investigation of the underlying mechanism and potential approaches for the management of co-occurring MS-related dysfunction.
患有多发性硬化症（MS）的人通常会表现出认知和身体功能障碍，尤其是随着年龄增长和身体活动水平降低，并且有证据表明在MS中这些结果之间存在关联（即认知-运动耦合）。迄今为止，在控制实际年龄和身体活动水平时，对认知-运动耦合了解甚少。
我们在考虑实际年龄和身体活动的情况下，研究了MS患者的认知-运动耦合。
样本包括290名年龄在22岁至77岁之间的MS患者。参与者接受了用于认知处理速度的符号数字模态测试（SDMT）和用于言语学习与记忆的加利福尼亚言语学习与记忆测试第二版（CVLT-II）。参与者分别完成了6分钟步行测试和25英尺定时步行测试，以评估步行耐力和速度。参与者佩戴加速度计7天，以测量中度至剧烈身体活动（MVPA）。
双变量相关分析表明，认知功能与运动功能存在中度至强关联（范围在0.433至0.459之间）。线性回归分析表明，在控制人口统计学和临床特征时，SDMT与运动功能之间存在认知-运动耦合（β范围在0.139至0.145之间）。回归分析进一步表明，在控制人口统计学和临床特征时，CVLT-II与运动功能相关（β范围在0.125至0.135之间）。当将年龄和MVPA纳入回归分析时，SDMT仍与个体的运动功能相关（β = 0.119），CVLT-II仍与个体的运动功能相关（β范围在0.115至0.124之间）。MS患者中存在认知-运动耦合，与实际年龄和身体活动水平无关。这值得进一步研究潜在机制以及管理并发的MS相关功能障碍的潜在方法。
