Atrophic brain changes and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis

The study included 93 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who underwent a comprehensive neurological, psychodiagnostic, and neuroimaging examination. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. The analysis revealed statistically significant correlations between the MoCA test results and morphometric indicators of brain atrophy, in particular, subcortical and cortical atrophy. The MoCA test showed high sensitivity for detecting cognitive changes, correlating with the duration of the disease, EDSS level, and neuroimaging indicators. This confirms its potential in the early detection of cognitive impairment that precedes more pronounced neurological symptoms. Thus, the results of the study indicate the feasibility of using the MoCA test as a tool for monitoring the cognitive status of patients with multiple sclerosis, as well as for predicting disease progression in the early stages.

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