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How MS Patients Cope with the Cognitive Impairments

Cognitive impairment is just a fancy way of saying that your thought processes and ability to dissimilate information is hampered in some way. People with multiple sclerosis (MS) sometimes suffer from some type of cognitive impairment. Cognition incorporates everything from remembering information to solving math problems to paying attention to details to even using the spoken word.

MS occurs when the nerve sheath called myelin becomes damaged and forms lesions. These lesions hamper the normal nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. As many people know, the brain is just one big mess of electrical nerve impulses sending signals throughout the body. Accidents, Alzheimer's disease and stroke can all impair cognitive abilities and MS is right there along with them.

Cognitive Impairments Commonplace?

About half of the people with MS have some sort of cognitive issue; however, many times it is mild such as not being able to concentrate on every day tasks in distracting situations or forgetting what to buy at the store. Luckily there are easy tips to handle these mini brain fogs and compensate. There are some MS patients who have sufficient cognitive impairment to have to stop driving or quit work.

MRI scans can show where lesions are in the brain which could give you a clue as to why you might experience some cognitive impairment with MS. These MRI scans also indicate that the location of lesions in certain parts of the brain could be also be a factor in cognitive issues. There are neuropsychological examinations which can definitively measure the level of cognitive impairment.

These cognitive issues are not always a forgone conclusion in MS sufferers. Not everyone will experience debilitating impairment. Plus, the level of physical MS symptoms is not indicative of cognitive problems either. Someone with MS who is physically impaired may be free of any debilitating cognitive impairment while seemingly normal looking MS patients with no untoward physical symptoms may have definite cognitive impairment. There is really no rhyme or reason to it all.

Tools to Help

Those with some impairment cognitively speaking do cope with a number of different tips and tools to see them through these particular times. For example, a digital recorder might be helpful for recording thoughts and reminders as they come to you for later reference. PDAs, calendars, to-do lists, and even post-it notes are all tools that are often used to compensate. Programming your computer or cell phone to pop up reminders is another excellent way to stay on top of things.

Exercising your brain is also helpful to keep that gray matter limber as well as firing new neural pathways as well. Playing cards, doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku and reading are other great pastimes that can keep your mind sharp as possible.

While there is no medication directed specifically at cognitive impairment for MS patients, there are several promising clinical trials that hold out hope for the future. In addition, the medications like interferon therapy that are used to slow the progress of the disease also helps slow down the progress of debilitating cognitive impairment.