Exploring cognitive motor interference in multiple sclerosis by the visual Stroop test

Giancarlo Coghe; Giuseppina Pilloni; Erica Zucca; Micaela Porta; Federica Corona; Jessica Frau; Giuseppe Fenu; Lorena Lorefice; Maria Giovanna Marrosu; Massimiliano Pau; Eleonora Cocco

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.02.026

Exploring cognitive motor interference in multiple sclerosis by the visual Stroop test

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2018 May:22:8-11. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.02.026. Epub 2018 Feb 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: gccoghe@gmail.com.
² Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: pilloni.giuseppina@gmail.com.
³ Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: erica.zucca25713@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: porta.micaela.ib@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: corona.federic@gmail.com.
⁶ Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: jessicafrau@hotmail.it.
⁷ Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: giusefenu@gmail.com.
⁸ Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: lorena.lorefice@hotmail.it.
⁹ Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: gmarrosu@unica.it.
¹⁰ Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: massimiliano.pau@dimcm.unica.it.
¹¹ Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: ecocco@unica.it.

PMID: 29501850
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.02.026

Abstract

Background: The dual task paradigm (the simultaneous performance of motor and cognitive task) is used in a laboratory setting to evaluate walking impairments that affect patients' daily lives. Although promising, it is poorly standardized and neither the cognitive task nor the motor task have been validated in a matched healthy control group (HC) for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: Our aim was to set up a standardized instrument to evaluate cognitive motor interference in MS using the interference test par excellence: the stroop colour word test (SCWT).

Methods: Patients with MS and HC underwent 3D gait analysis with a dual task protocol, using the SCWT as a cognitive task. Gait performance impairment during the dual task was evaluated by dual task cost (DTC). A MANOVA was used to verify the effect of status (MS, HC) on DTC, calculated for the spatiotemporal parameter of the gait.

Results: In MS, the DTC was higher for the following gait parameters: speed (p = .013), cadence (p = .004), stride time (p = .005) stance phase (p < .001), and swing phase duration (p = .032).

Conclusion: DTC is present in MS and HC, but the motor cost in MS is higher. The present work provides a useful and validated basis for future studies about cognitive motor interference in MS.

Keywords: Cognitive motor interference; Dual task; Gait; Multiple sclerosis; Stroop colour word test; Validation.

MeSH terms

Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cognition*
Female
Gait* / physiology
Humans
Male
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / physiopathology*
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / psychology*
Psychomotor Performance* / physiology
Stroop Test*