Neuropsychological Evaluation and Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (NEuRoMS): Developing an evidence-based online cognitive screen for people with Multiple Sclerosis

NEuRoMS Validation and Norming Studies (Work Package 6). Cognitive difficulties (involving problems with remembering things, paying attention and thinking) are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and can negatively affect different aspects of people’s lives. We are conducting a programme of research (NEuRoMS: Neuropsychological Evaluation and Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis; www.neuroms.org) aiming to improve how cognitive problems are identified and managed in people with MS. By identifying cognitive problems more quickly and more accurately, in the future clinicians would be better able to provide timely support to help people with MS manage these problems. We have developed a way of assessing people’s cognitive problems online, asking people to complete puzzles on their mobile phones or tablets (i.e., a cognitive screen). This smaller study (that is part of the NEuRoMS programme) consists of two parts. In Part I, we want to explore whether doing these puzzles online (e.g., on smartphones, tablets) give us the same results as when people complete them orally (by providing their responses out loud) or using paper and a pencil. In Part II, we want to explore how people without MS score on these online puzzles so that we can compare people with MS’ scores to these. We will ask participants to complete some online puzzles and answer some questions using their own device (e.g., smartphone, tablet).