Hossein Zare

Memory rehabilitation for the working memory of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS)

ABSTRACT Objective: The main cognitive impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS) affect the working memory, processing speed, and performances that are in close interaction with one another. Cognitive problems in MS are influenced to a lesser degree by disease recovery medications or treatments,but cognitive rehabilitation is considered one of the promising methods for cure. There is evidence regarding the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for MS patients in various stages of the disease. Since the impairment in working memory is one of the main MS deficits, a particular training that affects this cognitive domain can be of a great value. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of memory rehabilitation on the working memory performance of MS patients. Method: Sixty MS patients with cognitive impairment and similar in terms of demographic characteristics, duration of disease, neurological problems, and mental health were randomly assigned to three groups: namely, experimental, placebo, and control. Patients’ cognitive evaluation incorporated baseline assessments immediately post-intervention and 5 weeks post-intervention. The experimental group received a cognitive rehabilitation program in one-hour sessions on a weekly basis for 8 weeks. The placebo group received relaxation techniques on a weekly basis; the control group received no intervention. Results: The results of this study showed that the cognitive rehabilitation program had a positive effect on the working memory performance of patients with MS in the experimental group. These results were achieved in immediate evaluation (post-test) and follow-up 5 weeks after intervention. There was no significant difference in working memory performance between the placebo group and the control group. Conclusions: According to the study, there is evidence for the effectiveness of a memory rehabilitation program for the working memory of patients with MS. Cognitive rehabilitation can improve working memory disorders and have a positive effect on the working memory performance of these patients.

Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on everyday memory in multiple sclerosis patients

ABSTRACT The aim was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for everyday memory function in patients with multiple sclerosis. A total of 60 multiple sclerosis patients with cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to three groups, experimental, placebo and control. The groups were well matched in baseline characteristics. Everyday memory was assessed at baseline immediately post-intervention (8 weeks) and five weeks post-intervention. The experimental group received cognitive rehabilitation programme in 1-hour sessions on a weekly basis for 8 weeks. The placebo group received relaxation techniques on a weekly basis for eight weeks and the control group received no intervention. The results indicated that a cognitive rehabilitation programme had a positive effect on the everyday memory of patients in the experimental group post-intervention. However, there was no significant effect of intervention 5 weeks post-intervention. The present study demonstrated that cognitive rehabilitation had a positive effect on the everyday function of the multiple sclerosis patients. However, the effect did not last and that everyday memory function returned to its pre-intervention level.