Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): Normative study of 428 healthy participants ages 18 to 89

Abstract

BackgroundThe Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT) is a self-administered, iPad®-based, computerized system for quantifying neuroperformance (cognition, upper and lower extremity motor function, and vision) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). ObjectiveThe goal of the study is to provide regression-based norms for the four MSPT test modules to adjust for the influence of demographic variables (age, education, and sex). MethodsThe MSPT was administered to 428 cognitively intact, healthy adults (ages 18 to 89 years). Participants were recruited to achieve a demographically stratified sample from four geographically diverse United States testing sites. ResultsThe amount of shared variance in test performance accounted for by demographic variables was 18-23% for an upper extremity motor test, 31% for a walking speed test, 32% for a low contrast visual acuity test, and 48% for a cognitive test. All four test modules were significantly influenced by age (linear and non-linear effects) and education. Additionally, sex influenced performance on the cognitive and walking speed tests. ConclusionThis study provides regression-based equations that can enhance the clinical interpretation of MSPT scores by adjusting for the potential influences of age, education, and sex.