The relationship between cognitive deficits and everyday functional activities in multiple sclerosis

Considerable evidence indicates that cognitive dysfunction and impairments in everyday life activities are common in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the relationship between these cognitive and functional deficits has not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of cognitive dysfunction in the functional status of individuals with MS. Participants were 74 adults with MS and 35 healthy comparison participants (HCs) who underwent neuropsychological testing and completed the Executive Functions Performance Test (EFPT; Baum, Morrison, Hahn, & Edwards, 2003), an objective measure of everyday life activities. Between-groups comparisons and correlational analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between cognition and functional capacity. Significant differences in EFPT performance were revealed between individuals with MS with and without cognitive impairment and HCs. In individuals with MS, performance on cognitive constructs was related to performance on the EFPT. Furthermore, a linear regression model comprised of indices of cognitive functioning explained a significant portion of the variance in everyday life activities. Findings suggest that individuals with and without cognitive impairment differ in functional status and that aspects of cognition are predictive of functional status in MS.