Cognition in multiple sclerosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cognition in multiple sclerosis
IRAS ID
196840
Contact name
Jonathan Hinchliffe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
The cerebellum is an area of the brain located below the cortex and posterior to the brainstem, and its role is in execution of movement, including motor planning, and balance. Cognition is "the process of knowing, including attending, remembering and reasoning" (Gerrig and Zimbardo, 2009).The cerebellum is the part of the brain that is thought to manage more automatic, routine tasks. This has been well established in regard to motor functions and increasingly for cognitive functions. The cerebellum is often involved in multiple sclerosis pathology. MS lesions have a predilection (bias) for the cerebellum. Some MS patients have symptoms that are related to cerebellar damage, such as tremor and poor motor co-ordination and balance. MS patients with cerebellar symptoms are more disabled and do less well in rehabilitation. Recently, studies have shown that MS patients with cerebellar symptoms have a different cognitive profile to those without cerebellar symptoms. This study aims to explore further how the cognitive profile of MS patients with cerebellar symptoms relates to motor planning and function and how this differs from MS patients without cerebellar symptoms.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0165
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion