James F. Sumowski

TL;DR: Standardised neuropsychological tests that are easy to administer and sensitive to disease-related abnormalities are needed to gain a better understanding of the factors affecting cognitive performance in patients with MS than exists at present.

TL;DR: This group of MS researchers and clinicians with varied expertise took stock of the current state of the field, and identified several important practical and theoretical challenges, including key knowledge gaps and methodologic limitations related to understanding and measurement of cognitive deficits, and development of effective treatments.

TL;DR: Investigation of whether larger maximal lifetime brain growth (MLBG) and/or greater lifetime intellectual enrichment protect against cognitive decline over time provides longitudinal support for theories of brain reserve and cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis.

TL;DR: The unique relationship between intellectual enrichment and cerebral efficiency in neurologic patients is consistent with the cognitive reserve hypothesis, which does not posit that enrichment leads to gains in neurocognitive functioning per se; rather, enrichment protects against neuroc cognitive decline secondarily to disease.

TL;DR: Evidence that benefits of intellectual enrichment on cognitive status may stem from more efficient patterns of brain function, which shows that persons with larger maximal lifetime brain growth, greater vocabulary knowledge, and/or greater early life participation in cognitive leisure activities are better able to cope with MS disease without cognitive impairment.