Comparison of cognitive profiles related to verbal memory, attention, executive functions and visuospatial perception in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and hydrocephalus

Cognitive dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Hydrocephalus patients are generally thought to be due to the inability to focus attention rather than to fail encoding information into the memory system. However, few studies have been designed to comparatively analyze detailed neuropsycho¬logical assessments of MS and Hydrocephalus patients. Aim of the present study is to compare MS and Hydrocephalus patients? cognitive decline in terms of verbal memory, attention, executive functions and visuospatial perception. It is believed that this kind of information would help clinicians by revealing deeper information about learning and recalling strategies of these patients. 33 patients with diagnosed MS and 33 patients with diagnosed Hydrocephalus participated in the study. Participants were between 21-45 ages and all were matched for age, education level, sex and hand preference. Participants were evaluated by careful neuropsychological examination in order to compare their abilities in verbal memory (Öktem-SBST), attention and executive functions (Digit Span Test, Verbal Fluency Tasks, Stroop Test), visuospatial perception (Benton Face Recognition Test). Statistically significant differences emerged in ?Benton Face Recognition Test? and two subcategories of SBST: ?Maximum Learning? and ?False Recognition? as performances of Hydrocephalus patients were better. Additionally, memory deficits in male patients of both groups were shown to be more serious than in women. Even though this difference is not statistically significant, it should be mentioned and future studies may focus on underlying reasons of this difference. Key Words: Neuropsychological Assessment, Multiple Sclerosis, Hydrocephalus, Verbal Memory, Attention, Executive Functions, Visuospatial Perception