Cognitive impairment in MS: What is its true impact on the daily lives of people living with MS?

Cognitive impairment is a common manifestation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and can have a considerable impact on the quality of life of people living with MS (PwMS). Cognitive symptoms can impact the employment, social life, and relationships of PwMS and their participation in shared decision-making in their own care. Despite this impact, cognitive impairment is not always embedded into the MS care approach in the way that physical impairment is, resulting in it being overlooked.

This article, published in Neurology and Therapy on July 19 2023, summarizes discussions held at the European Charcot Foundation Conference in 2020 between members of the MS in the 21^st Century initiative, representing the patient voice as well as the healthcare professional perspective.

The panel discussed the low prioritization of cognitive impairment in MS care and some of the reasons that could contribute to this, including the ‘invisible’ nature of cognitive symptoms. Furthermore, the panel emphasized the importance of open communication between MS healthcare professionals and PwMS about how these symptoms affect daily life and how they can be proactively managed to maintain quality of life in the long term. Discussions highlighted that cognitive impairment should be prioritized as highly as physical disability not only in MS care but also the clinical drug development setting.