Impact of Brain Connectome and Personality on Cognitive Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis

The participant will be asked to make a total of two (2) visits, approximately 90 days apart. Each visit will involve: neuro-performance testing, and self-report questionnaires. Each study visit is expected to take approximately 1-2 hours. Between the two visits, the participant will be asked to complete a 12 week, computer-based cognitive training program. This includes 1 hour of training each day for 5 days each week.

On Visit 1, the participants will undergo a full battery of neuro-performance tasks including tests and questionnaires that will measure their memory, thinking speed, fatigue, and personality. This visit is expected to take approximately 1-2 hours. The participants will be also asked to have a close friend or family member to complete similar surveys. A self-addressed envelope containing these questionnaires will be provided to take home with them. The participant will need to pass it onto a close friend or family member to be completed and mailed back.

In addition, the participant will be asked to take part in the 12 week computerized cognitive training program. This can be done at home, or anywhere the participant has access to a computer and internet. This cognitive training has been shown to improve cognitive performance in people with multiple sclerosis. The training involves a variety of interactive exercises which adapt to their abilities. The participants will need complete 1 hour of training each day, for 5 days each week.

At 90 days, the participant will return for the 1-2 hours' follow-up visit where they will complete the same cognitive testing and questionnaires which they had completed during visit 1.

All study visits will take place at Buffalo General Hospital. All of the procedures described above will be performed by a trained member of the research team as part of the research study.

If an individual is ineligible for participation, their screening information will be discarded (i.e., shredded). If participants are deemed eligible (either in person or over the phone), they will be scheduled to come in to the hospital for neuropsychological testing. Written consent will be obtained prior to administration of tests. As part of the consent process, participants will be asked for permission to use any data collected as part of the screening process as well.

Inclusion criteria

For all subjects:

• males and females above age 18
• fluent in English
• education >9 years

Additional inclusion criteria for MS patients are as follows:

• Clinically definite MS diagnosis
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤ 6.5
• MS patients must be relapse-free and stable from the time of their MRI acquired for the CEG-MS study
• Willing and able to comply with the study procedures for the duration of the trial

Exclusion criteria

• history of serious medical or psychiatric illness (other than MS in the patient group) that may affect cognitive functioning
• color-blindness
• history of developmental disability
• past or current alcohol or substance dependence
• History of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder predating the onset of MS
• History of traumatic brain injury as defined by trauma causing loss of consciousness or transient post-traumatic or retrograde amnesia exceeding 5 min
• Other pathology related to MRI abnormalities