Indicators for cognitive performance and subjective cognitive complaints in multiple sclerosis: a role for advanced MRI?

Previous studies showed that advanced neuroimaging measures (functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging) could distinguish multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with and without cognitive impairment. Are these measures indeed better indicators for cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive complaints than conventional MRI? Fifty MS patients and 29 controls were investigated. Regression analysis, including socio-demographic data, disease characteristics, psychological measures, and (advanced) neuroimaging, showed that worse cognitive performance was associated with male sex, lower education, and lower gray matter volume. Subjective cognitive complaints were associated with fatigue and less hippocampal atrophy. Advanced MRI measures did not add to the predictive power of our model.