Meaningful cognitive change for the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis
Emilio Portaccio, Paola Grossi, Fabio Bellomi, Valentina Bianchi, Sabina Cilia, Monica Falautano, Benedetta Goretti, Claudia Niccolai, Erika Pietrolongo, Rosa Gemma Viterbo, Maria Pia Amato
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is limited information on interpretation of cognitive changes over time in multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide normative data for the assessment of statistically meaningful change in all tests of the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS). METHODS: We applied the reliable change methodology to a healthy Italian cohort, assessed with two alternate versions of the MACFIMS 1 year apart. We calculated confidence intervals of retest score variance using the reliable change index (RCI). Moreover, multivariable linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, and baseline score were built to calculate the regression-based change index (RB-CI). RESULTS: < 0.001). RB-CI can be calculated with data of the multivariable models. CONCLUSION: We provide normative data for reliable cognitive change evaluation for all the tests of the MACFIMS, which includes the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Brief International Cognitive Assessment in MS, two widely used tools for screening and monitoring cognition in MS. Our findings can significantly improve the interpretation of cognitive changes in MS.