Comparison of visual-spatial perception ability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and normal people in Tabriz City

Cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS) are frequent and debilitating. Changes in information processing speed are the most important cognitive complication in this disease. The purpose of this study was to compare visual-spatial perception ability in patients and healthy individuals.

This cross-sectional study was performed in Tabriz City from April to December 2018 in a descriptive-comparative method. After screening of 280 samples included in the study, 246 healthy samples remained at the end of the study. Of these, 123 were in the patient group and 123 in the healthy group. Linear orientation evaluation (JLO) was performed on the samples. Data were analyzed and normal and patient group differences were compared.

Mean age of studied samples were 0.45 ± 24.31 and 0.26 ± 23.67 for healthy and affected samples, respectively (P>0.05). 73.56% of affected patients and 79.96% of healthy subjects were married. The sex ratio of healthy samples was approximately equal (49.47% male and 51.53% female), while in the patient samples female sex was more frequent (56.74% female and 43.26% male). Visual-spatial perception ability was weaker in Patients with multiple sclerosis than healthy subjects.

Patients with multiple sclerosis have a poorer cognitive function than normal individuals; thus rehabilitation of these patients through better education and other measures can lead to better visual-spatial understanding.