0000000000671661
AUTHOR
M. Gennuso
Cognitive impairment in patients suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with EDSS ≤ 3.5
Objectives – Previous papers have mainly demonstrated the presence and the frequency of cognitive impairment in patients suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate subjects with the relapsing-remitting form of the disease and mild clinical disability (EDSS ≤ 3.5), so as to quantify this deficit when the illness does not yet interfere with daily living and the ability to work. Methods – Fifty patients and 50 healthy controls were submitted to a wide neuropsychological battery, including Wechsler Memory Scale – I- (WMS), Benton Visual Retention Test – D- (BVRT), Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM), Kohs’ test (KT), Judgement of L…
Hypo-excitability of cortical areas in patients affected by Friedreich ataxia: A TMS study
The aim of the study was to explore excitability of a motor and a non-motor (visual) area in patients affected by Friedreich ataxia and to correlate neurophysiological data with clinical parameters. Seven patients (3M/4F) and ten healthy controls (5M/5F) participated in the study. The hot-spot for activation of right abductor pollicis brevis was checked by means of a figure-of-eight coil and the motor threshold (MT) on this point was recorded. The phosphene threshold (PT) was measured by means of a focal coil over the occipital cortex as the lower intensity of magnetic stimulation able to induce the perception of phosphenes. The patients showed a significantly higher mean PT (p<.03) and MT …