Efeito moderador da reserva cognitiva no declínio cognitivo em doentes com esclerose múltipla

Abstract

This research meant to explore the relation among cognitive performance and Cognitive Reserve in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. It is intended to propose the hypothesis of Cognitive Reserve as a protective factor against cognitive decline in that clinical population, as well as to understand whether this protective effect is influenced by diagnosis time. The sample was composed by 26 portuguese adults, distributed into a clinical group and a control group, aged between 24 and 42 years old. Neuropsychological assessment instruments were applied in order to obtain a measure of cognitive performance (attention and processing speed, episodic verbal memory and working memory), as well a measure of Cognitive Reserve (Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire – CRIq). The results showed statistically significant differences in cognitive performance between the clinical group and the control group. It was not verified, for the clinical group, any statistically significant correlation between cognitive performance and the CRIq sub-indexes.A statistically significant correlation between Cognitive Status, CRIq sub-indexes and diagnosis time was also not demonstrated. The literature is consistent in the fact that the impact of neurological damage is smaller in individuals with greater Cognitive Reserve.However, the results of the present study did not corroborate such evidence, suggesting the small sample size as a possible explanation for the absence of statistically significant correlations.

Date of Award	29 Oct 2021
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Vânia Silva Nunes (Supervisor) & Filipa Ribeiro (Co-Supervisor)