Highlights
- •Physical activity and cognitive processing speed were measured in persons with MS.
- •Higher physical activity levels were associated with better cognitive processing speed.
- •The association was independent of age, sex, education, and walking performance.
Abstract
The impairment of cognitive processing speed is common, disabling, and poorly managed
in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study examined the association between objectively-measured
physical activity and cognitive processing speed (CPS) in a large sample of persons
with MS. Patients (N=212) underwent two valid neuropsychological tests of CPS, completed the Timed 25-Foot
Walk (T25FW), and wore an ActiGraph model GT3X accelerometer during the waking hours
of a 7-day period for objectively measuring physical activity as steps/day. Physical
activity was significantly associated with CPS (r=.39, p<.01), even when controlling for age, sex, and education (pr=.26, p<.01). This association was attenuated, but still significant after further controlling
for T25FW performance (pr=.13, p=.03). Physical activity behavior is positively and independently, albeit weakly,
associated with CPS in persons with MS, and may play an important role in managing
this aspect of cognition as it does in other outcomes in MS.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 28, 2013
Accepted:
April 24,
2013
Received in revised form:
April 22,
2013
Received:
December 26,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
