Naming of objects and actions in Multiple Sclerosis

Objective Aim of the present study was to explore differences in the performances of patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in naming objects and actions, as possible cognitive marker at early stages of the disease. Background Several studies have shown an impairment of the mental representation of the movement in diseases involving motor system, such as Parkinson’s disease, as a consequence of degenerative pathologies of the central nervous system. Methods The study was conducted with 72 participants (age:24-58, education>8). The sample was divided into 4 groups: 12 patients with Early Relapsing- Remitting MS [ERR group] (EDSS=0.95(0.62); disease duration=3.22(2.49)); 14 with Late Relapsing-Remitting MS [LRR group] (EDSS =1.25(0.80); disease duration=11.71(3.71)); 10 with Secondary Progressive MS [SP] (EDSS=8.55(5.63); disease duration=15.6(4.37)); 36 healthy controls [HC] matched with the other groups by age, sex, and educational level. All the groups performed the Boston Naming Test, to assess objects naming, and an Action Naming Task composed of 70 figures gathered from the “International Picture Naming Project” (IPNP), chosen on the basis of frequency and visual complexity. Results The performance of the groups was compared using a 4 (groups) X 2 (Objects and Actions) ANOVA for repeated measures. Analysis revealed a significant main effect on Groups and on Naming and a significant interaction effect between Groups and Naming (all p's<.001). All the patients are significantly more efficient in naming objects than actions. Conclusions The Action Naming Task is effective in identifying patients, even at an early stage of disease. Further investigations are needed on a larger sample to assess if the impairment is related to a dysfunction in parietal-premotor network.