A systematic review of cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis patients and presenting a comprehensive pattern of cognitive deficits in this disorder

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, the symptoms of which include a wide range of clinical symptoms, including cognitive impairment. The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive pattern of cognitive impairments in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. This fundamental research, based on a systematic review method, examined both domestic and international studies on cognitive impairments and their types in MS patients. Studies were systematically reviewed from reputable English databases such as ScienceDirect and Scopus for the years 2015 to 2023, and from internal databases such as SID and MagIran for the years 2015 to 2023. After extracting 2,250 articles and conducting three screening stages, including reviewing the introduction, abstract, and conclusions of the articles, 153 relevant articles remained for full-text review. Articles in English or Farsi which published in the mentioned periods and related to cognitive impairment were included in this research. The criterion for discharge was the onset of other aging-related, developmental, and clinical disorders unrelated to multiple sclerosis. The analysis of these 153 final articles identified four main cognitive impairment variables: memory, attention, information processing speed, and cognitive fatigue. A comprehensive model of cognitive impairments in MS patients was developed based on these variables. Considering the wide range of cognitive disorders and impairments caused by MS, this study was able to identify the most significant and relevant impairments and, by presenting a comprehensive model, directs researchers’ attention to these primary factors for developing and planning cognitive therapies.