Examining the Impact of Perceived and Objective Cognitive Function on Social Participation in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.
Michael VanNostrand, Dawn M Ehde, Susan L Murphy and 3 others
PMID 42034272WHAT IT FOUND
In adults with MS who have average cognitive test scores, how they perceive their own cognitive function strongly predicts social participation.
Objective cognitive test results showed only weak associations, while walking ability was the strongest predictor.
Key findings
01Perceived cognitive function showed a large positive correlation with social participation (r=0.53), while objective cognitive tests showed only small to moderate correlations (r=0.16 to 0.24).
02After controlling for age, sex, education, and walking disability, perceived cognitive function and inhibitory control (Flanker Test) were the only cognitive factors that significantly contributed to social participation after correcting for multiple comparisons.
03Walking disability (PDDS) was the strongest contributor to social participation in the initial model, outperforming objective cognitive measures.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample had average cognitive performance on objective tests, so findings may not apply to people with MS who have significant cognitive impairment. The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if poor perceived cognition leads to lower participation or if lower participation worsens perceived cognition. Perceived cognitive function and social participation were both self-reported, which may inflate their correlation compared to objective measures. The analysis did not account for factors like fatigue, anxiety, or depression, which can influence both social participation and perceived cognitive function.
Declared interests
None reported in the text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that objective cognitive deficits are the primary barrier to social participation in all people with MS. In this sample, which had average cognitive test scores, how patients perceived their own cognitive abilities and their walking ability were much stronger predictors of participation than their actual test results.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →