TOPIC WANTS: Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis

[sllowe]

Your going to like this one. I would have loved to have been at this event  - NY Academy of Sciences. Big players from Sinai, Hopkins, Stony Brook, Kessler, and more.

Once you go to the link, see the tabs. Specifically the "media report" tab.
It will drop down 4 Sessions you can breeze through. Very good info here.

Cognitive Dysfunction in MS, New Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment Event

http://www.nyas.org/publications/ebriefings/Detail.aspx?cid=3f519308-5cfa-4755-b4a0-29efe5f6d801

[Lulu54]

How can we not love and take advantage of all this information out there that helps to explain our problems and offers suggestions on how to improve or cope with  them?  Great link, Shell.

[maxthecat43]

Thank you!!!

Tammy

[sllowe]

So glad I bumped it! And, so glad you were able to get to it, through it, etc.

I am like so many of you here too and have the same very word switching, jumbled word searching and scrambled brain to mouth and body eggs syndrome lol

Happy it helps put words and context to what we all share. There is so much to be done w/this aspect of MS, so much to study - I hope they do it!

[Eyesnlegs]

This was the symptom that finally drove me to pay privately (in the UK) for a clinically definite dx. As a University lecturer with a PhD I thought I was going mad!

I would forget complex concepts in the middle of a lecture, I would know I had said a wrong word as the students would start giggling and nouns totally confounded me on some days. I had many phone conversations at work which went "well, there are 2 ways of looking at this" and by the time I explained the first I had forgotten the second or if the caller was explaining by the time they explained the second I had forgotten the first.

I found ways of coping, but mid-flow with students it was difficult, they just saw me as a mad Prof type!

Well 2 years ago I had cognitive tests done which the neuro-psych claimed could tell them my pre-MS intellect and explain any issues that MS was contributing too. Of course you have to be aware that pain, stress and fatigue also make cognitive issues worse.

Well it seems that my pre-MS intellect was in the top 1% of my peers, no surprise there with my academic record! Now I had thought I had memory problems but it turned out to be attention, which is also affected by MS. It seems that my attention levels are below average "which would not be anticipated in someone with my intellect".  Apparently my pre-MS cognitive ability has protected me slightly as she put it, you are now operating at the level of most of us in this respect.

So no memory issues just that I can't stay focused for very long, now that made sense!

Thank you Sllowe for the links I have shared them with my neuro-psych as they are so good! Of course the down side is I am really struggling at work :( but at least I now know why.

Pat x

[supermum_ms]

I'm just having dinner but i'll PM you!

Hugs

[ku111]

Thanks for the link to the article.  As most know, we only have "highly suspected MS".  Was talking with Jordan one night and he said, "I can handle the pain and zaps but I wish I had my memory back and I wish it didn't take 45 minutes to remember how to spell a simple word".  I know this gets so very frustrating for him, as I am sure for all of you.

[DiannaKw]

I think I may be suffering from some cognitive dysfunction, and have for a while now... my brain feels constipated. I just don't feel like myself anymore. Things used to come so easily for me, I could write and speak so eloquently, form complex thoughts and process logic naturally. Now it seems as though half the time, I can't find the words I'm looking for; I know they're there, but I cant "get at them". I have a hard time with carrying on a conversation. I stutter, for gods sake! I've NEVER stuttered. It's feels like everything is slowed and takes twice the effort it used too.

I don't know. Maybe it's all in my head. Maybe MS and it's potential to accelerate brain atrophy is just a convenient excuse on my part. After all, it could be any number and combination of things. Maybe I don't challenge myself or stimulate my mind nearly as much as I should... I've been out of school for years. What's the saying? - if you don't use it, you lose it? I don't have much of a social network, and have become a bit of a recluse... that could be a reason why my social and conversation skills have eroded as much as they have.

But still, when I make an effort to change my circumstances in this regard, it's as if my brain won't let me. It's too tired, or even, apathetic. Just does not cooperate! Bleh, I'm my own worst enemy :P

[supermum_ms]

Research has come a long way in a few short years, when I first started trying to understand MS back in 09, cognitive dysfunctions was placed in the 'rare' catagory but there was very little research available. Now that cognitive and communicational issues seen in MS, are being more widely studied, the stats so far coming out are in the 80+ range, so much for it being rare!

Hmmm wonder if we should start a poll with all the 'identified' issues in MS, it would be interesting though with my research background i doubt the poll facility on here can go as far as i'm thinking lol

I'd really like to see how many of us here now have spelling issues, spoken word substitution is acknowledged but what about in written form, i'm still looking for that one?

Cheers..........JJ

[sdtbftone1]

After proof reading what I just posted, I can only say what I tell my wife when the text messages I send her in English need to be interpreted


". . .stuupid spoolchk. . ."

[sdtbftone1]

I assure you my "cog fog" as you call it is cognitive impairment sufficient to result in big awarded SS 'totally, permanently disabled ' identification. If you would really like to know more about this "wheelchair in your brain" find Jeffrey Gingold's book " cognitive impairment and multiple sclerosis" grey paperback cover 1st edition. Would certainly like feedback from anyone brave enough to navigate this small but Poe
Woeful book and the anecdotal account of an ivy league educated attorney who bares his soul in addressing his symptoms, diagnosis, retirement, and continues to speak for MS Sociey nationwide.

[tjlmoo]

Thanks Barb! Yippeee! I'll go take another try.:)
Have a blessed evening.
Tammy:)

[Sidesteps]

Tammy it is under "Meeting Report" :)

I figured it out with Cog Fog. I am reading between work and things but will probably need to go back to it tonight.

[richarme]

Very informative article, thanks for sharing. This quote from the study is me 90% of the time LOL!

"Gingold, who has MS, occasionally experiences word-switching, where he'll unconsciously use an incorrect word when talking. He might not remember the order in which items were said to him, or, when going somewhere, he might get lost or forget why he made the trip."

[tjlmoo]

Okay, I finally got the correct link(blurry eyes/cog fog) but I can not find media report etc.
Just like Barb said earlier, click media tab but the choices are not what it should be or maybe I just don't know how to use the website or ??????
Tammy:):(

[tjlmoo]

Hello to ALL!

I keep getting technical difficulties.:(
I'll keep trying though!

Blessings to ALL!
Tammy:)

[Sidesteps]

I am confused when I go there. (Maybe that is the cog fog, lol?)  I click the media tab and a bunch of slides and audio clips show up.

I do not see the "media report" tab.  HELP!

[Needhelp16]

I just tried to read it but they're having technical difficulties on their website.  I definitely have cognitive problems, pretty badly so I hope the website is up and running soon.

Laura

[sllowe]

JJ, Sarah, Meg, and G-Girl and I are the only ones with cog fog? haha

Seriously, bumping because there is some really good things to learn about this on this link.

Hope those suffering have a chance to read through it.

[Guitar_grrrl]

Wow - that's great, Shell!  Thanks for the link!

[meg321]

Thanks for the info, Shell....takes awhile to read it and more to understand it..LOL

meg

[supermum_ms]

Hey Shell, i'm working my way through it, so far im digging it lol might need to read it through more than once before its sunk in, it is interesting, valid and well worth reading.

Cheers.......JJ

[sllowe]

Welcome Sarah - hope more take the time to read it. It's up to date, and solid information from practitioners.

[SarahL2491]

thanks for this link.  I really found it interesting!