Abstract
Background/Objectives Relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) is an inflammatory condition of the central nervous system, which causes neurological dysfunction in most neurological domains, including cognitive dysfunction. MS is being treated with a variety of different immunotherapies.
Social cognition relates to the process by which we perceive and interpret social information and is therefore functionally critical in the development and maintenance of important social connections.
We investigated whether immunotherapy with Cladribine can lead to improvement in social cognitive function in patients with RRMS compared to healthy controls.
Methods This was a case controlled, longitudinal study of RRMS patients compared with a group of healthy controls. We performed sequential cognitive assessments, EDSS assessments and MR imaging at time of Cladribine therapy as year 1 and year 2 for the MS group. Due to COVID related restrictions some psychological assessments were performed remotely using Qualtrics.
Results 49 MS patients and 51 age and sex matched controls were enrolled between 2019 and 2022. EDSS improved at Timepoints Year 1 + 2 compared with baseline in the MS group. Both MS patients and HC were quite highly educated groups with good cognitive function. There was little difference in social cognitive function at baseline between groups, which persisted over the study period. Cladribine was well tolerated over the duration of the study without severe adverse events reported.
Conclusion RRMS patients receiving Cladribine did not experience change in social cognitive functioning compared to healthy individuals in our cohort.
