Cognitive test: PASAT
Approximately two-thirds of people with MS may experience cognitive difficulties [1]. They can occur in all disease stages, including early stages of disease [1]. Cognitive problems can affect ability to work, drive, and maintain and enjoy social relationships, ultimately leading to a reduced quality of life [1].
The cognitive test used in the BENEFIT study was the Paced Auditory Serial Addition (PASAT) test. Throughout the study’s observation period, the early BETAFERON-treated group achieved better PASAT scores compared with the group with a delayed initiation of treatment (p = 0.0070) for treatment effect over 11 years, longitudinal linear mixed model adjusted for baseline PASAT score) [2-6]. The figure below shows the results of the PASAT test in the BENEFIT-15 study [6].
In the BENEFIT study, early treatment with BETAFERON was associated with sustained benefits in cognitive performance versus delayed initiation of treatment, as measured by the PASAT [6]
Putting the findings into context:
Normative data [7]
Mean (SD), as per the user manual
- ≤12 years of education: 46.7 (9.1)
- >12 years of education: 50.4 (9.7)
MS cohort (and matched controls) from Finland [8]
Mean (SD) age 42.7 (8.3); disease duration 12.9 (7.6) and years of education 13.1 (3.5)
- Overall (n=45): 39.6 (12.2)
- Cognitively deteriorated (n=19): 35.4 (9.2)
- Cognitively intact (n=26): 42.6 (13.4)
- Matched controls (n=48): 47.9 (10.2)
References
- DeLuca J et al. Nat Rev Neurol 2020; 16: 319-32. Return to content
- Penner IK et al. Mult Scler 2012; 18(10): 1466-71. Return to content
- Kappos L et al. Lancet 2007; 370: 389-97. Return to content
- Kappos L et al. Lancet Neurology 2009; 8(11): 987-97. Return to content
- Edan G et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2014; 85(11): 1183-9. Return to content
- Kappos L et al. Neurology 2016; 87(10): 978-87. Return to content
- Instructions for the paced auditory serial addition test. Available at: http://www.pasat.us/PDF/PASAT_Manual.pdf (Accessed August 18, 2022). Return to content
- Rosti E et al. Mult Scler 2006; 12: 586-93. Return to content
