Longitudinal assessment of the relationship between visual evoked potentials and cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objective: Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) can provide insight into disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). However, few studies have tracked concurrent changes in VEPs and cognitive functioning over time in MS. To address this, we examined the longitudinal relationship between VEP and cognitive performance in PwMS over a two-year period.

Methods: At baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2, 2.14 years after baseline, on average), P100 peak latency and inter-ocular latency (IOL) between eyes were calculated from the VEP elicited for checkerboard pattern-reversal stimuli. Cognitive performance was assessed for seven different domains (NeuroTrax battery). The potential for VEP variables to predict the T1-to-T2 change in cognitive performance was assessed in a series of multiple linear regression models.

Results: Baseline IOL and VEP latency were significantly associated with T1-to-T2 change in information processing speed. Post-hoc analyses indicated that PwMS that had both prolonged VEP latency and elevated IOL at baseline tended to exhibit greater information processing speed decline. Increase in VEP latency from T1-to-T2 was also associated with decline in psychomotor function over time.

Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that VEP measures can serve as valuable prognostic indicators of longitudinal cognitive change in PwMS.

Significance: Visual system neurophysiology corresponds with changes in speeded cognitive performance in MS.

Keywords: Cognitive decline; Inter-ocular latency; Multiple sclerosis; P100; Psychomotor speed; Visual evoked potentials.