Takeaway
Cognitive impairment (CI), which presents with a similar neuropsychological profile to multiple sclerosis (MS), can be used in the prediction of progression of radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) to MS.
Why this matters
RIS is defined as the observation of white matter lesions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, in asymptomatic patients, without a history of neurological deficiency, thereby suggesting MS).
RIS presents a 5-year risk prognosis rate of 34% conversion to MS.
However, 20-30% patients with RIS who are asymptomatic according to neurological examinations, demonstrated CI, which has a profile similar to MS.
The correlation between CI and quantitative MRI measures remains unknown.