The Relationship between Cognitive Disorders and Hippocampal Angle in Patients Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent inflammatory demyelinating disease that involves central nervous system. Cognitive disorders are common complaint of patients with MS. Hippocampus is a part of brain that plays significant role in cognition, and is highly sensitive to inflammatory changes induced by MS. This study was the first study conducted to assess hippocampal angle in cognitive disorders occur in patients with MS.

This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 39 patients with MS referred to university hospitals in Isfahan City, Iran, during 2015-17. Patients were divided to two groups of with cognitive and without cognitive disorders based on Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychology Questionnaire (MSNQ). Patients' age, gender, and Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) were evaluated. Then, all patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hippocampal angle, bifrontal diameter (BFD), and third ventricle width (3VW) was measured based on their imaging.

Cognitive dysfunction was significantly in association with patients age (P = 0.013; B = -0.164) and EDSS (P = 0.005; B = 1.23). No association was found between cognitive impairment and hippocampal angle (P = 0.270), and EDSS was not significantly correlated with hippocampal angle as well (P = 0.500, r = 0.317). In addition, BFD and 3VW were not statistically in correlation with cognitive impairment (P > 0.050).

Based on findings of our study, there was no association between hippocampal angle and neurocognitive function of patients with MS. In addition, this angle was not affected by patients' age and gender as well. Further studies with larger sample populations and consideration of drug regimen and duration of disease are recommended.