Abstract
BackgroundCognitive impairment is one of the common features of multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite high prevalence, cognitive decline is often overlooked by neurologists. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) was therefore introduced by the international expert committee as a brief and effective tool for the assessment and monitoring of cognitive functions in patients with MS. The validity and reliability of BICAMS have been demonstrated in many countries. Our aim was to validate the BICAMS in Georgian patients with MS.MethodsA total of 68 patients with MS and 68 matched controls were assessed by the Georgian-language BICAMS. All healthy controls and seven patients were re-evaluated with identical tests to assess retest reliability.ResultsIn comparison to healthy controls, patients with MS performed significantly worse on all tests in the assessment battery. Test–retest reliability measures were good for all tests. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with MS was 43%.ConclusionThe Georgian-language BICAMS is a reliable and valid battery for the assessment of cognitive function in patients with MS.
Highlights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating, and degenerative disease of the central nervous system [1]
The oral version was administered to four patients who scored ≥ 2 points on the pyramidal or cerebellar functional scales involving the dominant hand
The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for multiple sclerosis (MS) (BICAMS) battery was introduced by the international expert committee as a brief and effective tool for the assessment and monitoring of cognitive functions in patients with MS
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating, and degenerative disease of the central nervous system [1]. Over the past few decades, cognitive impairment (CI) has been recognized. Increasing evidence indicates that CI substantially impacts working ability and activities of daily living in patients with MS. It is the leading predictor of occupational disability in these patients [9]. If not assessed with standardized neuropsychological tools, it can be overlooked during routine neurological assessments [10]. Cognitive impairment is one of the common features of multiple sclerosis (MS). The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) was introduced by the international expert committee as a brief and effective tool for the assessment and monitoring of cognitive functions in patients with MS. Our aim was to validate the BICAMS in Georgian patients with MS
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
