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- Title
(REH21) Impact of Restless Legs Syndrome Severity on Cognitive Function in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis and Restless Legs Syndrome.
- Authors
Cederberg, Katie L. J.; Schuetz, Morgan L.; Mathison, Brianna; Braley, Tiffany J.; Walters, Arthur S.; Motl, Robert W.
- Abstract
Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder present in as many as 26% of persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and may exacerbate many of the symptoms and consequences of multiple sclerosis (MS), including cognitive function. Additionally, RLS symptoms often impair sleep quality, which could further exacerbate the neuropsychological symptoms associated with MS. Objectives: The present study examined the relationship between RLS severity and cognitive impairment in adults with MS and RLS. Methods: Participants with MS were screened for RLS using the Cambridge-Hopkins Restless Leg Syndrome Short Form Diagnostic Questionnaire. Participants attended 1 session wherein a rater performed an examination for scoring the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and participants completed the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Scale (IRLS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) followed by the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis battery consisting of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test--Revised (BVMT-R). Results: All participants (N = 22) had RLS (mean IRLS = 20.4; SD = 6.1). Nonparametric bivariate correlations indicated strong, negative associations between scores from the IRLS and CVLT-II (ρ = -0.627; P < .01), BVMT-R (ρ = -0.608; P < .01), and years of education (ρ = -0.632; P < .01). There were no significant associations among scores from the IRLS and the SDMT, PSQI, or ESS. We performed 2 multivariate linear regressions with forward stepwise selection wherein we regressed scores from 1) CVLT-II on IRLS scores and 2) BVMT on IRLS scores in step 1, and included variables that were significantly correlated with cognitive scores and IRLS scores in bivariate correlation analyses in step 2 (ie, years of education). IRLS scores significantly predicted CVLT-II (R² = 0.398) and BVMT-R performance (R² = 0.371); however, the relationship with BVMT-R performance was attenuated by including years of education (ΔR² = 0.144). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that worse RLS severity could contribute to worse immediate verbal recall and memory and worse immediate visual recall and visuospatial memory in PwMS. Additional research is necessary to explore mechanisms that may underlie this association. If a causal pathway exists, diagnosis and treatment of RLS symptoms may offer new opportunities to reduce cognitive impairment in adults with MS.
- Subjects
COGNITION disorders; CONFERENCES &; conventions; MULTIPLE sclerosis; RESTLESS legs syndrome; SEVERITY of illness index; ADULTS
- Publication
International Journal of MS Care, 2020, Vol 22, Issue S2, p74
- ISSN
1537-2073
- Publication type
Article